Northern plains have been gripped with cold day conditions wherein the day temperature has dropped below the stipulated mark of 16°C. The whole of Punjab and some parts of Haryana have recorded a maximum temperature between 14°C and 15°C. First time in this season, the entire region is reeling under cold conditions due to thick fog and cloud cover.
The normal day temperature over most parts of Punjab and Haryana around this time is expected in the low 20’s. Across the board, Majha, Doaba, and Malwa area of Punjab and northern parts of Haryana in the proximity of Aravali range have registered maximum temperature about 7-8°C below the normal. On 13th December, the respective maximum temperature and their variation from the normal at different locations are Amritsar 13.5°(-8°), Ludhiana 13.7°(-8°), Patiala 14°(-7°), Bhatinda 15.4°(-8°), Chandigarh 14.9°(-7°), Ambala 14.4°(-8°), Karnal 14°(-8°), and Kurukshetra 14°(-8°). This weather situation amounts to severe cold day conditions.
Heavy snowfall in the hills and widespread rain in the plains has triggered such cold conditions. These have been aggravated with a dense envelope of fog blocking the sunshine and restricting the rise in temperature. There is no immediate relief likely from such inclement weather and the day temperature are expected to repeat the previous day readings. This is likely to extend even further and stands a chance to have cold day and cold wave conditions simultaneously over the region.
