The cold conditions prevailed in parts of Punjab and Haryana with mercury settling up to six notches below the normal levels on Monday.
Narnaul in Haryana was the coldest in the region and braved the chill at the minimum temperature of 6 degrees Celsius, six degrees below normal. Punjab’s holy city Amritsar recorded minimum temperature at 6.2 degrees Celsius, two notches below normal on Monday.
Ironically, north India’s hill stations like Shimla and Dharamsala were warmer compared to the plains on Monday. In the neighboring hilly State of Himachal, capital city — Shimla recorded minimum temperature at 10.3 degrees Celsius, three degrees above normal while Dharamsala witnessed a low of 9.2 degrees.
Chandigarh, the joint capital of Punjab and Haryana recorded a minimum temperature at 9.2 degrees Celsius, down by one degrees from normal and maximum temperature at 26.5 degrees Celsius. Among other places, Ambala recorded a minimum temperature at 11 degrees Celsius, Bhiwani 9.2 degrees Celsius, Karnal 8 degrees Celsius and Hisar 8.1 degrees. In Punjab, ludhiana and Patiala witnessed minimum temperature of 8.2 degrees and 8.6 degrees respectively. The MeT has forecast mist or haze during morning in parts of Punjab and Haryana in next 48 hours. Days would be mainly sunny in both the States.
The MeT official added, “The night temperature has witnessed a sharp decline in parts of the region in last 48 hours. Some places recorded minimum temperature up to six degrees below normal on Monday.” Meanwhile, both Patiala and ludhiana in Punjab recorded maximum temperature at 27.5 degrees Celsius. The maximum temperature in Amritsar settled at 26.6 degrees Celsius, Ambala recorded maximum temperature at 26 degrees, Hisar 28.5 degrees, Bhiwani 28 degrees and Narnaul recorded 24.5 degrees, three degrees below normal.
In hilly State Himachal, Manali shivered at minimum temperature of 0.4 degrees, Kalpa recorded 1.4 degree Celsius, Nahan 7.7 degrees, Sunder Nagar 3.4 degrees, Solan 4 degrees Celsius, Una 3.8 degrees Celsius and Bhuntar 3.2 degrees Celsius.