Biting cold conditions prevailed in Haryana and Punjab on Saturday, with Hisar reeling at a low of 2.2 degrees Celsius. Hisar in Haryana was the coldest place in the state, while Narnaul too experienced a cold night at 3 degrees Celsius, Meteorological department officials here said.
Among other places in the state, Karnal, Sirsa, Rohtak, Ambala and Bhiwani recorded their respective minimums at 4 degrees Celsius, 4.1 degrees Celsius, 4 degrees Celsius, 5.3 degrees Celsius and 5.6 degrees Celsius, they said.
Chandigarh, the common capital of the two states, also braved a cold weather, registering a low of 4.2 degrees Celsius.
In Punjab, Adampur recorded a minimum temperature of 2.5 degrees Celsius. Pathankot , Halwara and Bathinda too braved intense chill, registering respective minimums of 3.5 degrees Celsius, 3.7 degrees Celsius and 3.8 degrees Celsius. Amritsar, Ludhiana and Patiala were also under the grip of biting cold, recording respective minimums of 4.2 degrees Celsius, 4.4 degrees Celsius and 4.8 degrees Celsius, the weather office said.
MET FORECASTS RAIN, SNOW IN HIMACHAL FROM SUNDAY
There could be good news for the thousands of tourists heading for the Himachal hills with the possibility of snow in several places. The meteorological department has predicted rain and snowfall in Himachal Pradesh from Sunday. The MeT centre Shimla on Saturday forecast rain at some places in the plains, low hills and rain and snowfall in isolated places of mid and high hills of the state on December 27 and 28.
On Saturday, the weather remained dry but cold in the state. Keylong, Kalpa, Mandi and Manali shivered at sub-zero temperatures, the meteorological department said. Tribal district Lahaul-Spiti's administrative centre Keylong remained the coldest place in the state at minus 11.1 degrees Celsius.
Kalpa in Kinnaur district, Mandi and Manali in Kullu district recorded a low of minus 3, minus 1 and minus 0.2 degrees Celsius respectively. Kufri and Dalhousie recorded a low of 2.9 and 6.0 degrees Celsius respectively. The minimum temperature in Shimla was recorded as 7 degrees Celsius.