Overcast conditions were experienced in most parts of the region with temperature levels plunging upto seven notches below normal on Monday, triggering cold wave conditions.
The joint capital of Punjab and Haryana — Chandigarh recorded a minimum of 6.5 degree Celsius, one degree below normal and maximum of 16.4 degree Celsius, seven notches below normal. A day before, the city had recorded minimum temperature of 8.2 degree Celsius while maximum temperature had settled at 17.5 degree Celsius. last year, the lowest minimum temperature recorded in Chandigarh in the month of February was 4.9 degree Celsius.
Meanwhile, Narnaul in Haryana was the coldest in the region braving the chill at minimum temperature of 2.5 degree Celsius, four degrees below normal while Karnal settled at a low of 2.8 degree Celsius, six notches below normal. A Met official said that overcast conditions are likely to be witnessed across the region in next 24 hours and thereafter, the weather would be mainly dry and sunny.
The official added that maximum temperature levels recorded on Monday across the region were very low as compared to last few years hence the cold conditions prevailed in some parts of the region. The Met Department has forecast that weather will remain partly cloudy and fog may occur at several places in Punjab and Haryana in next 24 hours. Chandigarh is also likely to witness cloudy conditions in next 24 hours.
Shimla, capital city of hilly State — Himachal Pradesh recorded a minimum temperature of 1.1 degree Celsius, two degrees below normal and maximum temperature of 8.8 degree Celsius, again two notches below normal. Dharmshala settled at a minimum temperature of 5.6 degree Celsius, Nahan recorded 3.2 degree Celsius, Solan 1 degree Celsius, Kangra 4.8 degree Celsius and Una settled at 4 degree Celsius.