Large parts of North India, particularly Punjab and Haryana, endured another day of intense cold on Saturday, as minimum temperatures plunged significantly below normal levels. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has forecast that these harsh conditions are likely to persist for the coming week, offering no immediate respite to residents.
Plains of India Record Near-Freezing Temperatures
The chill was most severe in the plains of Punjab, where several cities recorded temperatures close to the freezing point. Hoshiarpur emerged as the coldest spot in the plains of India with a low of 1.1°C. It was closely followed by Amritsar and Ballowal Saunkhri, both at 1.3°C. Other Punjab districts like Pathankot (2.8°C), Gurdaspur (3.2°C), Bathinda (3.4°C), Adampur, and Halwara (3.6°C) also shivered.
Neighbouring Haryana was not far behind in experiencing the biting cold. Mahendragarh recorded a minimum of 1.6°C, while Gurgaon saw 1.8°C. Sonepat and Narnaul registered 2.9°C and 3.5°C respectively. The common capital, Chandigarh, noted a night temperature of 4°C. The IMD reported that these readings represent a departure from the normal by up to 2.5 degrees Celsius.
Dense Fog Cripples Visibility, Disrupts Life
Accompanying the cold wave was a blanket of dense to very dense fog that engulfed the region, severely reducing visibility and disrupting daily life and transport. The situation was particularly critical in several areas of Punjab.
Amritsar reported zero visibility, making movement extremely hazardous. Other affected areas included:
- Faridkot: 25 metres visibility
- Bathinda, Adampur, Halwara, Ludhiana: less than 50 metres
- Gurdaspur: 60 metres
- Patiala: 100 metres
In Haryana, Narnaul was worst hit with visibility dropping to just 10 metres. Bhiwani, Karnal, and Hisar recorded visibilities of 20, 30, and 70 metres respectively.
IMD's Grim Forecast: A Week of Cold and Fog Ahead
The weather office has issued a stern warning, indicating that the challenging conditions are set to continue. Cold wave to severe cold wave conditions prevailed in parts of Himachal Pradesh, while cold wave conditions persisted over Punjab, Haryana, and Chandigarh.
The IMD's prediction states that there will be no significant change in minimum temperatures over northwest India for the next seven days. Furthermore, dense to very dense fog is very likely to persist in morning hours in isolated pockets of Punjab, Haryana, Chandigarh, and Himachal Pradesh until at least January 12, and possibly beyond.
Specifically, cold wave conditions are very likely in isolated pockets of Himachal Pradesh, Punjab, Haryana, and Chandigarh on January 11 and 12. Data shows a noticeable drop in average minimum temperatures from Friday to Saturday morning, with Punjab recording a fall of 2.2°C and Haryana seeing a decrease of 0.9°C.
Residents across the region are advised to take necessary precautions against the cold, limit early morning outdoor exposure due to poor air quality and fog, and stay updated with the latest weather advisories from the IMD.
