Patna: Bihar continues to reel under an intense cold spell, with the weather showing little relief between day and night temperatures, prompting the India Meteorological Department (IMD) to issue an orange alert for cold day conditions and dense fog over the next 48 hours.
The alert, issued on January 11 and 12, covers a large swathe of the state, as authorities warned people to avoid stepping out unless absolutely necessary. The combination of persistent fog, low visibility and near-uniformly low temperatures has already begun to disrupt daily life, transport and outdoor activity.
On January 11, cold day conditions were forecast for districts including East and West Champaran, Sitamarhi, Sheohar, Madhubani, Araria, Supaul, Kishanganj, Gopalganj, Siwan, Muzaffarpur, Darbhanga, Saharsa, Madhepura, Purnea, Katihar, Saran, Vaishali, Samastipur, Buxar, Bhojpur, Arwal, Kaimur, Rohtas and Aurangabad. Dense fog was expected to accompany the cold across many of these regions.
The following day, January 12, the alert extended to Araria, Supaul, Kishanganj, Saharsa, Madhepura, Purnea, Katihar, Khagaria, Bhagalpur, Munger, Banka and Jamui, with forecasters again warning of poor visibility and prolonged cold day conditions.
मौसम #चेतावनी #बिहार #दिन-1 से दिन-7 तक pic.twitter.com/Hp9rXx0Tpf
— Mausam Bihar- IMD Patna (@imd_patna) January 10, 2026
According to the IMD, the sharp chill gripping Bihar is being driven by a combination of factors: severe cyclonic activity over the Indian Ocean, the influence of strong jet stream winds in the upper atmosphere, and ongoing snowfall in the Himalayan region. Together, these systems are funnelling cold air into the Indo-Gangetic plains, keeping temperatures suppressed and moisture trapped near the surface.
The impact is already visible in the numbers. Gaya recorded the lowest minimum temperature in the state at 4.2°C on January 10, while minimum temperatures across Bihar ranged between 4.2°C and 10.8°C. In the past 24 hours, minimum temperatures in parts of southwestern Bihar fell by 1–3°C, while remaining areas saw little change.
Visibility has dropped sharply in several locations. Valmiki Nagar in West Champaran reported the lowest minimum visibility at just 40 metres, a level that poses serious risks for road and rail traffic during early morning and late-night hours.
कोहरा पूर्वानुमान (10 जनवरी 2026 )
Fog Forecast (10 January 2026)@officecmbihar @BiharDMD @BsdmaBihar @Agribih @WRD_bihar @BiharPlanning @bihar_police @IPRDBihar @airnews_patna @BiharTransport @Biharfire112 @BiharEducation_ @MWRD_Bihar #Bihar #Fog #Coldwave pic.twitter.com/dQnItHXzz4— Bihar Mausam Sewa Kendra (@BiharMausam) January 10, 2026
Looking ahead, the IMD said the weather across Bihar is likely to remain dry for the next seven days, but relief from fog is unlikely. Moderate to dense fog is expected to persist at many places throughout the coming week. While maximum temperatures may rise slightly—by 1–3°C over the next 48 hours—they are forecast to decline again gradually thereafter. Minimum temperatures could see a marginal increase over the next 24 hours before stabilising.
Meteorologists cautioned that despite occasional sunshine, cold day conditions may continue to dominate, particularly in the mornings and evenings. Elderly people, children and those with pre-existing health conditions have been advised to take extra precautions as Bihar settles into what could be one of the most testing cold spells of the season.
