Large parts of North India woke up to severely disrupted visibility on Saturday as dense to very dense fog blanketed several regions. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued warnings that these challenging conditions, along with cold waves, are likely to persist for the next few days.
Visibility Drops to Zero in Key Cities
The fog was particularly intense in the early morning hours. Amritsar in Punjab reported zero visibility, bringing life to a standstill. Other areas in the state also faced significant challenges, with visibility dropping to just 30 metres at Halwara and 60 metres at Bathinda. Neighboring Himachal Pradesh was not spared, where Kangra recorded 50 metres of visibility and Sundernagar saw 100 metres.
IMD Forecast: More Fog and Cold Waves Ahead
The weather office has predicted that the dense fog scenario is far from over. According to the IMD bulletin, dense to very dense fog conditions are very likely to continue during night and morning hours in many places over Punjab, Haryana, and Chandigarh until January 7. For Himachal Pradesh, these conditions are expected to last until January 8.
Adding to the winter chill, cold wave conditions are likely in isolated pockets of Punjab, Haryana, and Chandigarh until January 7. The IMD also forecasts a gradual fall in minimum temperatures by 2-3 degrees Celsius over Northwest India during the next two days.
Temperature Trends Across the Region
Minimum temperatures on Saturday ranged between 0-5°C in Himachal Pradesh and 5-10°C in some parts of Punjab. Despite the cold, the temperatures were recorded above normal in several areas.
In Punjab, the average minimum temperature fell by 1.2°C compared to Friday, yet it remained appreciably above normal by 3.3°C. Faridkot was the coldest spot in the state at 5.5°C, while Mansa recorded the highest minimum temperature of 11.3°C.
The situation was similar in Haryana, where the average minimum temperature saw a fall of 1.3°C from Friday but was still above normal by 2.5°C. Mahendragarh shivered at 4°C, whereas Ambala recorded a higher minimum of 11.2°C.
Residents across these northern states are advised to exercise caution while traveling, especially during early mornings and late nights, and to stay updated with the latest IMD warnings.
