The industrial city of Ludhiana endured its most severe cold spell of the year on Saturday night, as the mercury plunged to a biting 5 degrees Celsius. This marks the lowest temperature recorded so far in January 2026, putting residents on high alert as a persistent winter tightens its hold across Punjab.
Weather Alert and Hazardous Conditions
In response to the deteriorating conditions, the meteorological department has issued a yellow alert for the Ludhiana district. The warning highlights the likelihood of dense fog and significantly reduced visibility, which are expected to persist for the next four days, at least until Wednesday. This alert serves as an official notification for local administrative and emergency departments to stay prepared.
The fog created treacherous situations for early morning commuters. At 8:30 a.m. on Saturday, visibility was severely restricted to just 50 metres. Conditions showed gradual improvement as the day progressed, with visibility extending to 800 metres by 11:30 a.m. and further to 2,500 metres by 2:30 p.m., as the dense fog thinned into a light haze.
Temperature Trends and Resident Response
Saturday's minimum temperature of 5°C was notably 0.5°C below the seasonal average and a sharp 1.2°C drop from the previous night. While it is the coldest point this month, it stays slightly above the season's record low of 4.2°C set on December 2 last year. Daytime offered a minor respite, with the maximum temperature reaching 15°C. Although this is still 2.1°C below normal, it represented a 1°C increase from Friday.
Despite the intense night chill, the appearance of the afternoon sun provided a much-needed morale boost for the city's inhabitants. Resident Krishan Kumar shared that while heaters are indispensable during the nights, the comparatively better daytime weather over the past three days has been a welcome relief. Echoing this sentiment, another local, Surinder Singh, mentioned that many people are now seizing the opportunity to soak up the sun in the afternoons.
Forecast and the January Chill Trajectory
The weather office predicts a slight warming trend in the coming days. Night temperatures are expected to rise to 7°C on Sunday and remain stable for the subsequent five days. Meanwhile, daytime temperatures are forecast to climb gradually, potentially reaching 19°C by Thursday.
The steady descent of night temperatures throughout January underscores the intensity of the ongoing cold wave:
- Jan 1: 8.6°C
- Jan 2: 10.4°C (peak)
- Jan 3: 9.6°C
- Jan 4: 8.6°C
- Jan 5: 8°C
- Jan 6: 7.6°C
- Jan 7: 6.6°C
- Jan 8: 6.8°C
- Jan 9: 6.2°C
- Jan 10: 5°C (month's low)
This consistent drop from a relatively mild start to the month highlights the deepening winter grip on the region.
