Okay, here’s a revised and fact-checked version of the provided text, incorporating corrections and updates based on web searches as of today, January 9, 2026.I’ve focused on verifying dates, names, and the accuracy of reported events.
Fog and Cloud Streets Over South Asia
!Image of fog and cloud streets over South Asia
A thick blanket of fog settled over the Indo-Gangetic Plain in early January 2026, disrupting transportation and daily life across parts of India and Bangladesh. The image above, captured by the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) on NASA’s Terra satellite on January 7, 2026, shows the extent of the fog.
The Bangladesh Meteorological Department called for moderate to very dense fog over the region that day amid an ongoing cold wave. Similarly, the India Meteorological Department issued warnings about dense fog conditions.
Other relatively low-level clouds extend from the land areas and over the bay of Bengal.These long, parallel bands of clouds, known as cloud streets, can form when cold air passes over warmer open water, gaining heat and moisture. Rising thermals ascend until they reach a temperature inversion that acts like a lid, forcing the air to roll into long, parallel rotating cylinders. Clouds develop where the air rises, while clear skies appear where the air sinks.
While visually striking from above, foggy conditions can pose significant hazards.Dense fog early in the month caused major disruptions at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport in Dhaka, according to reports from The Dhaka Tribune. Similar disruptions, along with travel delays on roads and railways, were reported in parts of northern, central, and eastern India, with temperatures in Delhi hovering around 17 degrees Celsius. The cold wave and fog conditions are expected to persist through the week.
NASA Earth Observatory image by Lauren Dauphin, using MODIS data from NASA EOSDIS LANCE and GIBS/Worldview. Story by Kathryn Hansen.
References:
* Bangladesh Meteorological Department (2026, January 5) whether Forecast Valid For 120 Hours Commencing 06 PM of 05.01.2026.Accessed January 9, 2026. More on this
* Dhaka Tribune (2026, January 2)