Amritsar records 2.4 degrees Celsius despite rise in mercury

Chandigarh, Jan 27 (UNI) Despite a rise in the mercury, cold climatic conditions prevailed at some places in the north-west region with Amritsar turning out to be the coldest place in the plains, recording the minimum temperature at 2.4 degrees Celsius.

Except the holy city of Amritsar, where the minimum temperature hovered three degrees below normal, the mercury stayed one degree to six degrees above normal.

The minimum hovered three degrees below normal at Amritsar even as the cold wave abated from Punjab. However, there is possibility of ground frost occuring at isolated places in the state during the next two nights, according to the Weather Office here. People reeled under low temperature in Ludhiana where the minimum settled at 7.6 degrees while Patiala showed 9.0 degrees.

The night temperatures showed steady rise in Haryana where Ambala recorded a low of 7.9 degrees, two degrees above normal, followed by Narnaul registering 8.0 degrees, Karnal 11.0 degrees and Hissar 12.1 degrees, six degrees above normal.

Chandigarh and its adjoining areas also recorded an increase in the temperature following partially cloudy weather. The Sun played hide and seek during the day. The minimum rose to 10.6 degrees, three degrees above normal, from 8.2 degrees recorded yesterday.

Parts of Himachal Pradesh continued to be under the imapct of cold climatic conditions. Extreme cold wave conditions persisted in the tribal belt where snowfall occured at isolated places, including Petsio.

Bhuntar in Kullu district recorded 4.1 degrees and Sundernagar in Mandi district showed 4.7 degrees. The capital town of Shimla, experiencing unusually warmer days, registered the night temperarture at 7.7 degrees celsius, which was six degrees above normal.

Certain areas in the region, including Halwara, Sarsawa and Palam in Delhi experienced fog, reducing visibility considerably at these places.

The Weather Office has predicted light to moderate rain or snow at isolated places in Himachal Pradesh and partly cloudy days with fog or mist occuring during night and morning in Punjab and Haryana in the next 24 hours.

UNI