After experiencing bright sunshine for almost a week, Chandigarh and its surrounding States witnessed light to moderate rainfall on Friday.
The biting cold conditions left the people shivering with mercury plunging below normal levels in various parts of the region. Amritsar was the coldest in the region with minimum temperature settling at 3.1 degree Celsius. Chandigarh received light rainfall of 2.7 mm and recorded minimum temperature at 8.6 degree Celsius and maximum temperature at 17.4 degree Celsius, four notches below normal.
Various parts of Punjab and Haryana also recorded light rainfall. Ambala recorded 5 mm rains, Hissar 2 mm and Patiala 3 mm till Friday. The adjoining towns of Panchkula in Haryana and Mohali in Punjab, also experienced rain. In Punjab, ludhiana settled at a low of 6.8 degree Celsius while Patiala saw minimum of 8.6 degrees. In neighboring Haryana, Ambala settled at minimum temperature of 9.2 degrees, Hissar witnessed a low of 9.4 degree Celsius, Karnal recorded 9.5 degrees, Bhiwani 11 degree Celsius and Narnaul saw minimum temperature at 7 degree Celsius.
According to the local Meteorological Department, the maximum temperature settled below normal levels while the minimum temperature was close to normal in some parts of Punjab and Haryana. A Met official said that the maximum temperatures have plunged upto four notches below normal in some parts of the region. The local Met Department has forecasted partly cloudy conditions and possibility of rain in next 24 hours in Haryana and Punjab.