Severe cold has set in again over plains of North India and this bone-chilling spell will stay till the new year. Icy cold winds from the snow-capped mountains are piercing most parts of North India covering Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan, Delhi and West Uttar Pradesh. The persisting single-digit temperature dipped further to drop 3-5°C below the normal resulting cold wave condition across the region.
Hisar, Churu and Amritsar are breaching the freezing mark to register the lowest temperature of the season. While Churu has a repeat performance of dropping below 0°C (-0.4), Hisar reached 0°C, 7°C below normal today first time in this season qualifying for severe cold wave condition. Amritsar reached 0.4°C, for the second time this season and the lowest minimum so far.
Along with cold wave, most parts of Punjab experienced cold day conditions with day temperature not lifting above 14°C. While Amritsar, Jalandhar and Firozpur recorded a maximum temperature of 12°C (7°C below normal), Kapurthala was the coldest measuring 10.3°C. Ludhiana had the distinction of both day and night temperature below normal by 5°C, with maximum and minimum temperature tied at 13.5°C and 1.6°C respectively. Chandigarh also recorded the lowest temperature of the season with maximum dipping to 14.5°C (6° below normal) and minimum at 2.8°C.
The excruciating cold will last over the entire region till the new year eve and slight relief thereafter. An active western disturbance is approaching on 2nd Jan 2021 and weather system is supported by induced cyclonic circulation. Fairly widespread rain and thundershower in the plains of North India with hailstorm at few places is expected between 02nd January and 05th January 2021. Snowfall activity in the hills will possibly extend even beyond these dates to cause disruption and blockade of state highway and arterial roads.
