Ludhiana Grapples with Intense Cold Nights and Severe Weather Alert
Residents of Ludhiana faced another night of biting cold as the minimum temperature in the city once again dropped below 5 degrees Celsius on Thursday. The meteorological department has escalated concerns by issuing an orange alert for Friday, predicting a severe weather event including thunderstorms, lightning, gusty winds, heavy rain, and even hail in Ludhiana district.
Temperature Plummets to 4.4 Degrees Celsius
According to the meteorological department, Ludhiana recorded a minimum temperature of 4.4 degrees Celsius on Thursday. This reading is 1.7 degrees below the normal seasonal average and marks a significant drop of 1.8 degrees from the previous day. Notably, this chilling temperature is close to the season's lowest recorded on January 12, when the mercury dipped to 4.2 degrees Celsius, making it the coldest night of the ongoing winter.
Sunny Days Contrast with Freezing Nights
In a stark contrast to the frigid nights, Thursday saw sunny conditions prevailing for most of the day, leading to a notable rise in the maximum temperature. The day temperature was recorded at 24 degrees Celsius, which is 5.6 degrees above normal and 1.4 degrees higher than Wednesday. This fluctuation has created a confusing weather pattern, with residents experiencing warm days followed by harshly cold nights.
Early Thursday morning, fog was reported in various parts of the district, reducing visibility to 200 metres at 8:30 AM due to a dense layer. This added to the challenges faced by commuters and locals.
Weather Warnings and Alerts for Ludhiana
The meteorological department has issued specific alerts for Ludhiana as part of its statewide weather warnings. An orange alert is in effect for Friday, indicating the need for preparedness due to expected severe conditions, including thunderstorms, lightning, gusty winds of 40 to 50 kmph, heavy rain, and hail. For Sunday, a yellow alert has been issued, warning of dense to very dense fog at isolated places in the district. The department clarifies that a yellow alert serves as an update for concerned departments, while an orange alert signals the necessity to be prepared for adverse weather.
No alerts have been issued for Saturday and Monday, though the forecast predicts a partly cloudy sky on both days. According to the meteorological department's website, the day temperature is expected to fall to 14 degrees Celsius by Saturday, then rise to 16 degrees Celsius on Sunday and remain stable on Monday. Night temperatures may see a sharp drop to 3 degrees Celsius on Saturday before climbing to 9 degrees Celsius by Tuesday.
Residents Voice Concerns Over Weather Fluctuations
Amid these fluctuating conditions, residents express confusion and concern over the unpredictable weather. Harwinder Singh, a local resident, shared that while people are relieved by the improvement in day temperatures, the severe cold at night remains a significant issue. He emphasized that such variations—warm days coupled with cold nights—can lead to health problems, prompting residents to take extra precautions to safeguard their well-being.
As Ludhiana navigates this period of extreme weather contrasts, the community remains vigilant, heeding the meteorological department's warnings and adapting to the challenging environmental conditions.
