BATHINDA: Biting cold and blinding fog were reported across the plains of Punjab and Haryana on Saturday, with visibility dropping to zero at isolated places and minimum temperature being recorded less than Shimla’s at several places.
Dense fog brought down visibility to less than 50 metres in isolated pockets of Punjab and Haryana. In Himachal Pradesh, fog brought down visibility to 200 metres. There was zero visibility in Amritsar and Pathankot in Punjab; and Hisar, Ambala, and Karnal in Haryana. In Himachal Pradesh, Bilaspur recorded the worst visibility of 100 metres.
In Haryana, Narnaul was the coldest place, recording a minimum temperature of 4.4°C. It was much colder than the hill station of Shimla, where the minimum temperature was 10.4°C. Likewise, several other stations in Haryana were colder than Shimla — Hisar (5.5°C), Gurgaon and Bhiwani (6°C), Jind (6.6°C), Karnal (7.6°C).
The situation was no better in neighbouring Punjab, as biting cold swept through Sangrur and Bathinda in Punjab, with both recording minimum temperatures of 5.1°C and 5.2°C, respectively.
Amritsar and Faridkot recorded respective minimums of 7.3°C and 6.2°C. In remaining places, the minimum temperature was: Patiala and Gurdaspur (7.5°C), Barnala (7.6°C), Ludhiana (8.4°C) and Mohali (8.6°C). Chandigarh recorded a minimum of 7.8°C.
There is a possibility of rain in the region in near future. As per the India Meteorological Department, there are chances of fairly widespread to widespread light to moderate rainfall over Himachal Pradesh until Jan 6. Isolated rainfall accompanied by thunderstorm activity is expected over Punjab, Haryana, and Chandigarh on Jan 5 and 6.
A gradual rise in minimum temperatures by 2-4°C is likely over the plains during the next three days, followed by a fall of 2-3°C thereafter.
