Archive · 15 Jan 2026
Severe Cold Grips Kashmir, Rajasthan, and Delhi
Many places in India are very cold right now.
In Kashmir, the famous Dal Lake and other water bodies have frozen because the temperature is so low.
The coldest place in Kashmir is Sonamarg, where it's minus 7.0 degrees Celsius.
This is part of a 40-day period called Chilla-i-Kalan, which is the coldest time of the year.
In Rajasthan, Lunkaransar is also very cold, with temperatures dropping to 1.4 degrees Celsius.
Delhi is also experiencing cold weather, with temperatures dropping to 3 degrees Celsius.
Soon, a weather system called a western disturbance might bring some snow, which could help with the cold and air quality.
Parts of Dal Lake and other water bodies in Kashmir have frozen due to severe cold.
Shopian recorded the lowest temperature in Kashmir at minus 7.5 degrees Celsius.
A western disturbance is expected to bring snow to the valley from January 16.
The Kashmir Valley is currently in the midst of Chilla-i-Kalan, a 40-day period of extreme cold.
Air quality in Srinagar has been poor, with the AQI reaching as high as 180, and Delhi's AQI is 337.
- Who
- Residents and tourists in Kashmir, Rajasthan, and Delhi
- What
- Severe cold wave and freezing of water bodies, including Dal Lake
- When
- Ongoing since December 21, with a western disturbance expected from January 16
- Where
- Kashmir Valley, Ladakh, Rajasthan, and Delhi
- Why
- Chilla-i-Kalan, a 40-day period of extreme cold with high chances of snowfall
- Lowest Temperature (Kashmir)
- Minus 7.5 degrees Celsius (Shopian)
- Coldest Place (Kashmir)
- Sonamarg (minus 7.0 degrees Celsius)
- Coldest Place (Ladakh)
- Leh (minus 11.4 degrees Celsius)
- Western Disturbance
- Expected from January 16
- Chilla-i-Kalan
- 40-day period of extreme cold (Dec 21 - Jan 30)
- Air Quality Index (Srinagar)
- 180 (as of Jan 14)
- Air Quality Index (Delhi)
- 337 (as of Jan 14)
- Lowest Temperature (Rajasthan)
- 1.4 degrees Celsius (Lunkaransar)
Sources
Parts of Dal Lake freezes as Kashmir reels under severe cold
Western disturbance likely to end dry spell in Kashmir
Sub-zero temperatures sweep Kashmir and Ladakh ahead of fresh snowfall forecast
At 3 deg C, Delhi wakes up to coldest January morning
Rajasthan reels under cold conditions, Lunkaransar shivers at 1.4 deg Celsius
Sonamarg Turns Into Winter Wonderland
Why Delhi-NCR is freezing while Shimla stays warmer
Hisar shivers at 0.5 deg C as cold conditions persist in Haryana, Punjab
Winter rains to rescue India’s wheat crop as record cold wave to ease after 16 January
