Winter is about to become noticeable across Uttar Pradesh. After a mild first half of November, the state weather office in Lucknow and local reports both point to falling temperatures in the coming days, though they differ on how fast the change will come.

What the forecast says

According to an extended-range forecast released on Thursday, 12 November 2026, by the India Meteorological Centre in Lucknow, temperatures are projected to fall by 3 to 5 degrees Celsius during the second fortnight of November. For the period from 13 to 26 November, the centre expects dry conditions in most agro-climatic zones of the state, with no active weather system or warning in place.

Scientist Atul Kumar Singh explained that a western disturbance near Kashmir will not directly affect Uttar Pradesh. It is expected to bring rain to the north-western Himalayan region and western plains, which in turn will strengthen north-westerly winds over the state. This is what pushes colder air south.

The forecast splits the fortnight in two. From 13 to 19 November, days will stay a little warmer than usual and minimum temperatures will be slightly above normal. From 20 to 26 November, daytime temperatures will return to near normal, and nights will turn colder, with minimums settling near normal. The coldest conditions are expected in the Terai, the western plains and the Vindhya region.

A faster change from the weekend?

Amar Ujala, citing the same senior scientist, reports a sharper start. A new western disturbance is moving towards the state through Kashmir and Himachal Pradesh, and cold westerly winds from the hills are expected from 15 November. In two days, both day and night temperatures could fall by 3 to 5 degrees Celsius, the paper reported. Faster winds are also expected to improve air quality, which has been poor after Diwali.

The two reports do not describe the change identically. The extended-range outlook talks about a gradual slide over two weeks, while the Amar Ujala report talks about a quick drop from the weekend. Readers should treat the numbers as the same 3 to 5 degree range, and watch the daily forecast for timing.

Where it stands now

For now the weather is stable. Days are pleasant and sunny, with a light chill in the morning and evening. On Thursday, six districts recorded night temperatures below 15 degrees Celsius. Najibabad had the lowest daytime maximum in the state at 26.6 degrees Celsius, and Hardoi had the coldest night at 13 degrees Celsius.

The weather office also said the post-monsoon season has been normal so far. Between 1 October and 12 November, Uttar Pradesh received slightly more rain than normal. East UP received normal rainfall and West UP received excess rainfall. There was no rain at all anywhere in the state between 6 and 12 November.

Fog is already on the railway calendar

The colder spell is a reminder that fog season is close. Amar Ujala reports that North Eastern Railway has issued revised dates on which the Farrukhabad–Chhapra Express (15084) will not run to keep winter operations safe. The train will be cancelled for 34 days in all: eight in December, 19 in January and eight in February. Railway public relations officer Amit Malviya gave the figures.

The December dates are 18, 19, 20, 22, 25, 26, 27 and 29. In February the train is cancelled on 2, 5, 6, 7, 9, 12, 13 and 14. January has 19 cancellation dates, running from 1 January to 31 January. Passengers on this route should check the date before booking.

What to do

  • Keep a light jacket for mornings and evenings from this weekend.
  • Elderly people and children should avoid early-morning cold exposure when winds pick up.
  • Check train status on the railway enquiry channels before travelling to stations in fog-prone months.
  • Follow the daily bulletins of the India Meteorological Department for the exact timing of the drop in your district.

What next

The India Meteorological Centre has not issued any cold wave warning, and it does not expect rain in the state in the next two weeks. The first week of the forecast is warmer than normal in the day, and the second week brings colder nights. Updated forecasts should show whether the quick fall from 15 November materialises.