Night temperatures stay low in Punjab

Chandigarh, Dec 24 (UNI) The night temperatures stayed low in many areas in Punjab and parts of Haryana today even as a dense fog enveloped many areas in the region.

The fog reduced visibility considerably forcing vehicular traffic to move at snail's pace in the morning.

Chandigarh, Adampur, Bhatinda, Hindon, Sarsawa, Leh and Palam in Delhi remained shrouded in the fog while Amritsar and Udhampur experienced mist, and Srinagar, Jammu and Pathankot reported haze.

In Punjab, people shivered under biting cold at Amritsar recording minimum temperature at 2.2 degrees Celsius, two degrees below normal. The holy city turned out to be the coldest place in the plains.

The minimum temperatures hovered at one degree each below normal at Ludhiana and Patiala, recording 4.5 degrees and 6.0 degrees Celsius respectively.

In Haryana, the mercury also stayed low at Ambala and Karnal, respectively recording 4.1 degrees and 6.0 degrees Celsius. While Ambala showed three degrees below normal, Karnal reported two degrees down.

Cold wave conditions persisted in several areas in Himachal Pradesh where the temperature continued to remain below freezing point in the tribal areas.

Bhuntar in Kullu district recorded a low of 0.8 degrees while Sundernagar in Mandi district showed 1.6 degrees Celsius. However, the minimum temperature rested three degrees above normal at State capital Shimla recording 7.0 degrees celsius.

The entire Kashmir valley continued to be in the grip of cold wave with Srinagar recording minus 0.4 degrees while Jammu registered 0.9 degrees.

Chandigarh and its adjoining areas in Punjab and Haryana were shrouded in a thick fog in the morning which, however, cleared as the day advanced. The city recorded the minimum temperature at 8.0 degrees, two degrees above normal.

Ground frost is likely to occur at few places in Punjab and at isolated places in Haryana during the next two nights, according to the weather office here.

It forcast light to moderate rains or snow at isolated places in Himachal Pradesh and mainly sunny days with fog or mist in the morning and evening in Punjab and Haryana during the next 48 hours.

UNI