Dense to very dense fog has severely impacted large parts of North India over the past day, with Punjab and Himachal Pradesh bearing the brunt of the chilling conditions. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) reported significantly low temperatures and poor visibility, disrupting normal life and travel in the early morning hours.
Record Low Temperatures and Poor Visibility
The plains of India witnessed some of the coldest temperatures, with Adampur in Punjab and Bhopal in Madhya Pradesh jointly recording the country's lowest average minimum temperature of 4.8 degrees Celsius. In Bathinda, the mercury dropped by 1.2°C in 24 hours, settling at 0.6°C below the seasonal normal. Hisar in Haryana was not far behind, registering a minimum of 5.7°C, which is 2.4°C below normal.
The dense fog drastically reduced visibility, creating hazardous conditions. Faridkot reported visibility as low as 20 meters, while Bathinda saw 40 meters. In Himachal Pradesh's Bilaspur, visibility was recorded at 50 meters during the morning.
IMD Forecast: Rain, Snow, and Persistent Fog
According to the IMD, a western disturbance is likely to influence the region's weather in the coming days. Light rainfall or snowfall is expected at isolated places over Himachal Pradesh and Punjab on December 20 and 21.
The foggy conditions are predicted to persist. Dense fog is very likely in isolated pockets of Punjab from December 17 to 20, in Himachal Pradesh from December 17 to 19, and in Haryana and Chandigarh on December 18 and 20.
Temperature Trends and Outlook
Minimum temperatures remained below 5°C in isolated parts of Himachal Pradesh and ranged between 5°C and 10°C across many areas in Punjab and Haryana. Interestingly, the past 24 hours saw a slight warming trend, with minimums rising by 1-3°C at a few locations in Himachal and Punjab.
The IMD's broader forecast indicates that minimum temperatures over Northwest India will see no significant change for the next three days. However, a gradual rise of 2-3°C is expected in the subsequent four days. State-wise, Punjab's average minimum temperature fell by 0.1°C from Monday to Tuesday morning but remained 2.7°C above normal. Haryana, in contrast, saw a 0.5°C rise, with temperatures recorded near the normal range, with Narnaul being the coldest at 6°C.
Residents and travelers in the affected states are advised to exercise extreme caution during early morning hours, check visibility conditions before commuting, and stay updated with the latest IMD warnings.
