North India is currently facing the peak of the winter season as a severe cold wave, combined with dense fog, has brought normal life to a standstill. On December 18, Delhi recorded its coldest December day of the season so far, with the maximum temperature plunging to 20.1°, which is significantly below the seasonal average. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has responded by issuing various color-coded alerts across several states, warning residents of “Severe Cold Day” conditions and dangerously low visibility due to “very dense” fog.
School Closures and Modified Timings
As temperatures drop, district administrations have prioritized the safety of students by announcing immediate school closures and schedule changes. In Uttar Pradesh, the Bareilly district administration ordered all schools up to Class 8 to remain closed from December 18 to December 20, 2025. While some schools with pre-scheduled board or pre-board examinations are permitted to continue, officials have warned of strict action against institutions violating the general closure order.
In Bihar, the Patna District Magistrate has mandated that schools operate only between 9:00 AM and 4:30 PM until December 25, though some reports suggest further shifts to a 10:00 AM start for primary classes to protect young children from the early morning chill. Similarly, in Lucknow, schools from Class 1 to 12 have been directed to begin classes only after 9:00 AM. In the National Capital Region (NCR), primary classes in many districts have shifted to online or hybrid modes as part of GRAP-4 regulations intended to combat both extreme cold and severe air pollution.
IMD Alerts and Weather Forecast
The IMD has placed several regions under high-priority alerts for December 19 and 20. A Red Alert was issued for parts of Uttar Pradesh including Bareilly, Kanpur, and Prayagraj due to the persistence of dense fog and severe cold. An Orange Alert remains in place for other districts like Meerut and Aligarh. The atmospheric conditions are being driven by cold westerly winds, which have significantly suppressed daytime temperatures across the plains.
While the plains struggle, the hilly regions of Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, and Uttarakhand are expecting a fresh spell of snowfall between December 20 and 23. Interestingly, Kashmir has experienced a temporary reprieve as night temperatures rose slightly above the freezing point, with Srinagar recording a low of 0.2^\circ\text{C}. However, this is expected to be short-lived as the region braces for the onset of ‘Chillai-Kalan’ on December 21, the 40-day period of harshest winter.
Health and Skincare Advice for the Season
With the intensifying cold, dermatologists are warning residents about common skincare mistakes, particularly the misuse of potent ingredients like retinol. Because cold air and indoor heating strip the skin of moisture, applying retinol to damp skin or skipping moisturizer can lead to severe redness, peeling, and barrier damage. Experts recommend the “sandwich method” applying a layer of moisturizer before and after retinol and emphasize that broad-spectrum sunscreen remains non-negotiable, even on foggy days, to protect the skin barrier which becomes more sensitive during the winter months.