The cold snap has extended to cover large parts of Punjab, Haryana and neighbouring regions of Rajasthan and Delhi. The capital city of Chandigarh recorded day maximum of just 11.2°C, nearly 9°C below the normal. Ambala competed closely by recording a maximum of 12°C, about 7°C below the normal. Both stations recorded a minimum of under 10°C. Severe cold day conditions, the first of this season, were on the cards for both cities. The onslaught may continue till the weekend.
The mercury has plunged rather sharply at both these co-located cities. Chandigarh had recorded day maximum of 24.1°C on 27 Dec 2024 and Ambala 22.8°C on the same day. The temperatures have dropped to less than half of these marks, merely in about 3 days. This is an extremely steep decline, not witnessed very often. The sky-obscured conditions have restricted the sun and worsened the cold conditions. There could be a slight improvement today but still continuing with severe cold day conditions.
Following heavy snowfall over the mountains of Himachal Pradesh, the downslope cities along the foothills have abruptly slumped to punishing levels. Cold wave conditions are prevailing across the region for the second consecutive day, covering Punjab, Haryana and Delhi. These cities reeling under cold day conditions include Pathankot, Gurdaspur, Amritsar, Firozpur, Bhatinda, Ludhiana, Patiala, Karnal, Rohtak, Sirsa and Ambala.
There is a pair of western disturbances likely to move across the mountains between 01st and 06th Jan 2025. While the rain and snowfall may be a week-long activity for the hills, the plains will also have their small share on 05th and 06th Jan. The foothills covering Pathankot, Ropar, Chandigarh, Panchkula, Mohali, Ambala and Karnal will be more susceptible to weather activity on these two days. The passage of these two systems may provide some relief from the excruciating cold conditions. However, major relief is expected later in the second week of Jan, when intermittent sunshine will improve the weather conditions, at least during the day.
Image Courtesy: InstaHimachal.Com
