Northwest India under grip of cold weather

New Delhi, Dec 20 (UNI) Mercury stayed low across the northwest region today while fog enveloped the national capital despite a rise in the temperature.

Amritsar in Punjab turned out be the coldest place with 3.4 degrees Celsius, two degrees below normal, Chandigarh and its adjoining areas in Punjab and Haryana were also under the impact of cold weather conditions as the minimum stayed at 6.0 degrees, one degree below nomral.

The minimum hovered one degree below normal at Ludhiana recording 6.0 degrees while Patiala showed 9.6 degrees.

However, the minimum hovered above normal in Haryana. Ambala recorded the minimum at 10.3 degrees, three degrees above normal.

Hissar recorded a low of 11.1 degrees which was five degrees above normal. Karnal registered 9.8 degrees two degrees above normal.

Cold wave conditions prevailed in many areas of Himachal Pradesh.

A piercing cold wave swept the tribal districts of Lahaul spiti and Kinnaur and Pangi and Bharmour areas in Chamba district, where the minimum hovered below freezing point.

Kullu valley was also under the impact of cold climatic following further drop in the temprature. The minimum stayed at 1.4 degrees at Bhuntar in Kullu district.

Shimla and its surrounding areas also reeled under cold climatic conditions although the capital town recorded 5.2 degrees.

Fog enveloped the national capital reducing visibility levels during the morning hours even as the chill in the air persisted despite a rise in temperature.

The fog led to a drop in visibility levels to nearly 400 m at about 0730 hrs, the weatherman said.

However, no flight delays were reported from the International airport but the fog led to traffic jams in many areas.

Cold Easterly winds maintained the chill in air even though the minimum temperature rose to 7.8 degrees , from a low of 6.5 degrees yesterday.

Meanwhile, minimum temperatures dipped at a few places in Telangana and Rayalaseema in Andhra Pradesh in the last 24 hours even as dry weather prevailed over the State.

The lowest minimum temperature of eight degree was recorded at Adilabad, the Weather office said.

The North Coastal Andhra reeled under cold wave conditions due to continental winds from the north eastern direction, a report from Visakhapatnam quoting Cyclone Warning Centre spokesman said.

In Rajasthan, Jaipur witnessed a rise in the temperature by 6 degrees owing to western disturbances and a cloud cover recording 12 degrees.

Churu, however, remained the coldest in the state, mapping 5.7 degrees. Ganganagar recorded 6, Pilani and Dabok 9, Barmer 10, Kota 11, Ajmer 12, Bikaner 13 and Jodhpur and Jaisalmer 14 degrees.

UNI Team KD RP DB2009