The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued an orange alert for Punjab and Haryana due to impending cold wave conditions, with severe cold expected at isolated places. Yellow alerts are in effect for other states including Himachal Pradesh, Jharkhand, Odisha, and Rajasthan, warning of continued cold and dense fog. Delhi faces a yellow alert for cold conditions and fog, with temperatures expected between 19-21°C maximum and 3-5°C minimum.