A biting cold wave and thick fog continued to blanket Punjab and Haryana on Sunday, disrupting daily routines and reducing visibility to alarming levels in many areas. The harsh winter conditions showed no signs of letting up, with temperatures plunging across the region.
Record Low Temperatures and Visibility Issues
Amritsar recorded the lowest minimum temperature in the plains of the country at a chilling 1.7 degrees Celsius. Many parts of both states saw temperatures hovering between 5 and 9 degrees Celsius. Despite a slight rise of 0.5 degrees Celsius in average minimum temperatures compared to Saturday, the cold remained severe.
Visibility Drops Drastically
Dense to very dense fog severely impacted visibility throughout Punjab. Amritsar reported zero visibility, making early morning movement extremely difficult. Other cities faced similar challenges:
- Faridkot: 15 metres visibility
- Patiala: 20 metres visibility
- Bathinda: 40 metres visibility
- Ludhiana: 50 metres visibility
- Gurdaspur: 100 metres visibility
In Haryana, Hisar reported visibility of just 40 metres. The fog compounded the discomfort caused by the persistent cold wave, affecting transportation and daily activities.
IMD Forecast for Coming Days
The India Meteorological Department issued important predictions for the region. Dense fog conditions are likely to continue during morning and night hours in some pockets of Punjab, Haryana, and Chandigarh until January 21st.
Rain and Snowfall Predictions
For Himachal Pradesh, the IMD forecasts cold wave conditions in isolated pockets from January 19th to 21st. The department also predicts isolated to scattered light to moderate rain and snowfall between January 18th and 21st, with isolated heavy rain expected on higher reaches on January 23rd.
In the plains, isolated to scattered light to moderate rain is forecast over Punjab, Haryana, and Chandigarh from January 22nd to 24th. This rainfall will likely be accompanied by thunderstorms on January 22nd and 23rd.
Temperature Patterns Across States
Punjab recorded temperatures near normal despite the slight increase in average minimum temperature. Amritsar remained the coldest location in the state with its 1.7 degrees Celsius reading.
Haryana also saw a 0.5 degrees Celsius rise in average minimum temperature compared to the previous day, with temperatures staying near normal levels. Sonepat reported the lowest minimum temperature in the state at 3.1 degrees Celsius.
Overall Impact on Daily Life
The prevailing conditions clearly demonstrate winter's severity across the region. Dense fog continues to disrupt routine activities, while sustained low temperatures maintain cold wave conditions firmly over multiple districts in both states. Residents face ongoing challenges with transportation and outdoor activities as the harsh weather persists.
