Residents of Gurgaon faced a challenging Tuesday morning as a thick blanket of dense fog engulfed the city, drastically reducing visibility and slowing traffic to a crawl. The foggy conditions, which persisted until late morning, marked a significant dip in temperatures across the region.
City Grinds to a Halt Amid Poor Visibility
The fog, which set in overnight, led to visibility plummeting to around 50 metres in several areas of Gurgaon. Commuters had a difficult time as vehicles moved slowly along major stretches, with drivers dependent on fog lamps to navigate. The sun finally broke through around 11:30 am, offering some respite. The Meteorological centre in Chandigarh recorded Gurgaon's minimum temperature at 8°C, which was 1.6 degrees lower than the day before. The maximum temperature settled at 20.3°C.
State-Wide Chill and IMD's Forecast
The cold wave was not limited to Gurgaon. Across Haryana, Narnaul was the coldest at a biting 3.8°C. Other recorded minimums included Ambala (5.8°C), Hisar (5.5°C), Chandigarh city (8.2°C), Rohtak (8.2°C), and Sirsa (7.9°C). The India Meteorological Department (IMD) noted that the state's average minimum temperature had risen slightly by 0.4°C in 24 hours, staying near normal.
The IMD attributed the current conditions to a western disturbance and a strong subtropical westerly jet stream influencing northwest India. This system is expected to cause heavy rain and snowfall over Jammu & Kashmir, Ladakh and adjoining Himalayan regions between December 30 and January 1.
Furthermore, light to moderate rain and snow are likely in Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand until January 2. The plains of Punjab, Haryana, and Chandigarh may see isolated light rain on December 31 and January 1, with West Rajasthan also likely to receive rainfall on December 31.
More Fog and Travel Disruptions Ahead
The weather office has issued a warning, stating that dense to very dense fog during night and morning hours is likely to continue over Punjab, Haryana, Chandigarh and western Uttar Pradesh until January 1. This means Gurgaon can expect more mornings with poor visibility and potential travel delays.
The impact of fog was starkly evident in the national capital as well. Delhi was shrouded in dense fog from late Monday night into Tuesday morning, with visibility also dropping to 50 metres for several hours. The conditions severely hampered air travel, leading to the cancellation of 118 flights and the diversion of 16 others at the Indira Gandhi International (IGI) Airport. Delhi recorded a maximum temperature of 21.5°C and a minimum of 9.4°C.
Authorities advise commuters to exercise caution, use appropriate vehicle lights, and check flight and train schedules before venturing out during early morning hours for the next few days.
