Rajasthan Weather Takes a Turn: Dense Fog Engulfs State, Thunderstorm and Rain Alert Issued for Six Districts

Jaipur: Weather conditions across Rajasthan have changed noticeably, with dense fog blanketing several districts on Monday morning, including the state capital Jaipur. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has also issued a yellow alert for thunderstorms and rainfall in six districts on January 22, indicating the onset of Mawath (winter rain) in the state.

Dense Fog Reduces Visibility

Districts such as Jaipur, Kota, Bikaner, Alwar, Dausa, and Bharatpur witnessed light to moderate fog during the early hours of the day. The situation was more severe in Tonk district, where dense fog reduced visibility to as low as 50 metres, disrupting normal traffic movement. In parts of Bikaner, cold winds led to a fresh drop in temperatures, intensifying the winter chill.

Yellow Alert for Rain and Thunderstorms

According to the Meteorological Department, winter rainfall activity is likely to begin later this week. A yellow alert has been issued for six districts on January 22, warning of possible thunderstorms and light rainfall. This weather change is expected to further increase the impact of cold conditions across the state.

Temperature Trends Across the State

On Sunday, minimum temperatures in more than ten cities remained above 10 degrees Celsius. However, maximum temperatures dropped by 2 to 4 degrees in several regions, leading to cooler daytime conditions. The lowest minimum temperature in the state was recorded in Karauli at 6.1 degrees Celsius.

Cities including Jaipur, Ajmer, Bhilwara, Chittorgarh, Kota, Udaipur, Barmer, Jaisalmer, Phalodi, Bikaner, Dungarpur, Pratapgarh, and Jhunjhunu recorded minimum temperatures above 10 degrees Celsius. Morning fog was also reported from Alwar, Sri Ganganagar, Hanumangarh, and Jhunjhunu.

Mixed Weather Conditions

Over the past 24 hours, weather remained clear in Bikaner, Jodhpur, Udaipur, and Kota divisions. Meanwhile, Jaipur, Bharatpur, and Ajmer divisions experienced partly cloudy skies, which led to a slight rise in night temperatures in several districts.

Fog Triggers Highway Accident, Causes Traffic Jam

Dense fog also led to a road accident on the Delhi–Jaipur National Highway (NH-48). Near the Sotanala flyover in the Kotputli-Behror district, an 18-wheeler trailer overturned around 7:30 am on Monday, reportedly due to poor visibility. The incident caused a traffic jam stretching nearly four kilometres on the Jaipur-bound lane.

Paniala police reached the spot promptly and are working with cranes and JCB machines to clear the overturned vehicle. No casualties have been reported so far.

The changing weather pattern has prompted authorities to advise motorists and residents to remain cautious, especially during early morning and late-night hours when fog and reduced visibility are expected to persist.