India Braces for Extreme Weather: Fog, Cold Wave, Thunderstorms Alerted

• IMD issues Orange alert for very dense fog in Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh, Yellow alert for dense fog in Himachal Pradesh, Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan, Odisha, and Northeast states.
• Cold wave Yellow alert declared for Madhya Pradesh, Telangana, and parts of Karnataka; thunderstorms and lightning expected in Tamil Nadu, Puducherry, Karaikal, and Nicobar Islands.
• Delhi to experience shallow to moderate fog with maximum temperatures between 23-25°C and minimums 9-11°C; AQI remains 'very poor' at 327.
• Extensive fog conditions, including very dense fog, are forecast for Uttar Pradesh and East Madhya Pradesh from December 17-18, and other regions until December 21.
• Light rainfall and snowfall are predicted for Jammu and Kashmir, Ladakh, Gilgit, Baltistan, Muzaffarabad (Dec 18-22), extending to Himachal Pradesh, Punjab, and Uttarakhand later.

Why It Matters: IMD warns of widespread fog, cold wave, and thunderstorms across India, urging caution.