Mercury dips in the region

Chandigarh, Feb 15 (UNI) After staying above normal in the past few days, night temperatures again dipped in North-West India following snowfall in high altitude areas of Himachal Pradesh and rain in some areas of Punjab overnight.

The minimum hovered one degree to four degrees celsius below normal, renewing cold climatic conditions at various places in the region.

Cold conditions prevailed in Punjab and Adampur with 5.0 degrees celsius recorded the lowest temperature in the plains. The cold conditions are likely to abate in the state in the next two days, according to the Met Office here.

The minimum fell from 9.1 degrees to 5.8 degrees at Amritsar, from 9.1 degrees to 6.5 degrees at Ludhiana and from 10.4 degrees to 7.5 degrees, three degrees below normal at Patiala following rain.

The minimum temperature also dropped at various places in Haryana, including Ambala and Karnal, respectively recording 7.7 degrees and 8.2 degrees, one degree below normal. However, Hissar showed rise in the minimum temperature to 9.6 degrees, two degrees above normal.

Cold wave persisted in Himachal Pradesh following intermittent snowfall in higher reaches in tribal areas of the state. People groaned under biting cold wave in the tribal belt where the mercury hovered below the freezing point.

Shimla annearby tourist resort of Kufri also experienced intermittent snowfall and sleet. Shimla recorded the night temperature at minus 0.6 degrees.

The minimum also fell at Bhuntar in Kullu district and Sundernagar in Mandi district, respectively recording 3.4 degrees and 2.8 degrees.

Cold winds swept Chandigarh and its adjoining areas as the night temperature dipped to 8.0 degrees from 10.4 degrees recorded yesterday. The pale yellow Sun peeped occasionally in the skies and afforded little warmth to the people.

The weather Office has predcited moderate to rather heavy rain or snow at many places in Himachal Pradesh and light to moderate rain or thundershowers at few places in Punjab and Haryana during the next 24 hours.

Hailstorm or thundersquall with wind speed exceeding 45 km per hour is likely to occur at isolated places in the region.

UNI