Chandigarh residents woke up to a sharp chill on Tuesday morning as the city recorded its coldest night of the current winter season. The mercury took a significant dip, marking a clear intensification of winter conditions.
Mercury Plummets Below Normal
The minimum temperature at the official city observatory in Sector 39 settled at a brisk 6.6 degrees Celsius. This reading broke the previous season's low of 7.5 degrees Celsius, which was recorded just a few days earlier on November 30. According to the local meteorological centre, this night temperature was a substantial four degrees below the normal average for this time of year.
Other parts of the city felt similar cold. The observatory at the airport reported a minimum temperature of 7.6 degrees Celsius. The daytime provided little respite, with the maximum temperature reaching 24.2 degrees Celsius, which is also one degree below the normal range.
Clear Skies Drive Rapid Cooling
Weather scientists attributed the sudden cold to specific atmospheric conditions. Clear skies and notably low humidity allowed the day's heat to escape rapidly after sunset. This process, known as radiative cooling, led to the faster drop in temperature, creating colder-than-usual conditions across the entire Union Territory.
Cold Nights to Continue: IMD Forecast
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a forecast for the coming days, indicating that the cold spell is here to stay. For the next five days, night temperatures are likely to hover between six and eight degrees Celsius. Daytime temperatures are expected to remain pleasant, ranging from 23 to 25 degrees Celsius.
The forecast also predicts that the sky will remain largely clear, which means the conditions facilitating night-time cooling will persist. Residents can expect the winter to gradually intensify over the next few days, requiring warmer clothing, especially during the early mornings and late evenings.
