Patna: Dense fog and cold conditions continue to shape winter weather across Bihar, with the India Meteorological Department (IMD) issuing a yellow alert for fog in 18 districts of the state on Sunday.
The alert covers parts of northern and southern Bihar, where dense fog is expected to persist during the early morning and night hours. In Patna and adjoining areas, lighter fog is forecast, though visibility may still be reduced in the mornings.
According to the IMD, foggy conditions are likely to continue for the next four to five days, while a slight intensification of cold is expected after January 20–21. Over the past 24 hours, minimum temperatures dipped below 10C in 15 districts, with Sabour in Bhagalpur recording the lowest temperature at 5.4C.
DENSE FOG NOWCAST WARNING FOR NEXT 03 HRS pic.twitter.com/KScm1689rz
— Mausam Bihar- IMD Patna (@imd_patna) January 18, 2026
Meteorologists said daytime sunshine would lead to a gradual rise in maximum temperatures, even as westerly winds maintain a biting chill during mornings and nights. The IMD expects maximum temperatures to increase by two to three degrees Celsius over the next four days.
Visibility dropped sharply in several districts, with the lowest visibility of about 550 metres recorded in Purnea. Across the state, minimum temperatures ranged between 5.4C and 12C, while night temperatures are expected to hover between 6C and 12C in most areas.
In Patna, the minimum temperature has remained around 10 to 11C, while the maximum temperature stood at 22.1C on Saturday. The highest daytime temperature in the state was recorded in Gopalganj, where the mercury climbed to 28.5C.
The IMD said moderate fog is likely to persist in Patna during the mornings, but clear skies and sunshine later in the day should provide limited relief from the cold. Despite the warming afternoons, officials cautioned that winter conditions would continue to affect daily life across Bihar in the coming days.
