Dry weather causes concern in wheat belt of North West

Chandigarh, Jan 23 (UNI) Though there was no respite from the cold wave in the North West, the prevailing dry conditions is causing concern to the farmers of Punjab and Haryana as it was not conducive for the wheat crop.

Adampur in Punjab continued to be the coldest place in the plains recording a minimum temperature of minus 1.0 degrees celsius, while the holy city of Amritsar was equally cold at minus 0.7 degrees.

The dry spell in Himachal Pradesh may have eased the cold wave conditions, but low rainfall and snow in the hill state during this time of the year is affecting the growth and size of the apple crop.

The day and night temperatures in the hill state are on the rise, dashing hopes of heavy snowfall in the winter season.

The night temperatures at most places in the plains of Punjab and Haryana remained below the normal mark and in the tribal districts of Himachal, it hovered around minus ten to twenty degrees.

The minimum in Amritsar was minus 0.7 degrees, six degrees below normal. In Ludhiana, the night temperature rose to two degrees and was recorded at 3.2 degrees, three degrees below normal while at Patiala it was 3.6 degrees, three degrees below normal.

In Haryana, Narnaul was the coldest place at 1.0 degrees, while Karnal was also cold at 3.0 degrees, four degrees below normal.In Ambala, the minimum was recorded at 3.7 degrees, three degrees below normal, while in Hisar, the minimum was recorded at 6.1 degrees and at Rohtak, it was 4.7 degrees.

Despite sunny weather, cold conditions prevailed in Chandigarh with the minimum falling 4.0 degrees, four degrees below normal.

Bhuntar in Kullu district recorded minus 0.3 degrees, two degrees below normal and Sundernagar in Mandi district showed minus 0.3 degrees. The capital town of Shimla registered 3.5 degrees celsius while Una was cold at 1.3 degrees. Kalpa in Kinnaur district recorded a minimum of minus 2.0 degrees.

The Weather Office has predicted partly cloudy days in the region with fog or mist occuring during night and morning in Punjab and Haryana in the next 24 hours. The dry spell in the region which is likely to continue for the next few days.

UNI