Ludhiana residents witnessed a minor respite from the biting cold on Thursday, a day after the city shivered through its coldest day in two years. While sunshine broke through the clouds in the afternoon, it did little to significantly warm the city, as cold wave conditions maintained their grip.
Temperature Trends and Meteorological Alert
The maximum temperature on Thursday was recorded at 12 degrees Celsius. This reading is a slight improvement of 0.8 degrees from Wednesday's low but remains a significant 5.1 degrees below the normal seasonal average. The minimum temperature settled at 6.8 degrees Celsius, which is 1.3 degrees above normal and marginally higher than the previous day.
In response to the ongoing severe conditions, the meteorological department has issued a yellow alert for Ludhiana for the next four days. The alert warns of cold wave and very dense fog on Friday, followed by dense fog for the subsequent three days. This advisory is intended to keep all relevant departments prepared to handle the inclement weather.
Visibility Issues and Forecast Outlook
Foggy conditions severely hampered visibility throughout Thursday. The visibility level was stuck at 500 meters during multiple checkpoints at 8:30 AM, 11:30 AM, 2:30 PM, and 5:30 PM, indicating persistently poor conditions.
The forecast offers a glimmer of hope for a gradual warm-up. The day temperature is expected to rise to 13 degrees Celsius on Friday and hold steady on Saturday before potentially climbing to 15 degrees Celsius by Monday. Night temperatures are predicted to be around 7 degrees Celsius on Friday, dip to 6 degrees on Saturday and Sunday, and then return to 7 degrees by Monday.
Residents Battle the Biting Chill
The intense cold continues to disrupt daily life, forcing people to take extra precautions. City resident Hardeep Singh shared his experience of venturing out to Model Town market around noon. He described the cold as being "beyond tolerance" and noted that the afternoon sunshine provided little relief from the chill. Singh added that he has been wearing multiple layers of warm clothing as a necessary defense against health issues like cough and cold during this severe spell.
As Ludhiana braces for more days under the fog blanket, the focus remains on staying warm and safe while authorities monitor the situation under the active weather alert.
