Respite from winter chill in Punjab, Haryana

Chandigarh, Feb 5 (PTI) People in the northern plainsof Punjab and Haryana today got a respite from the biting coldwith the temperature rising above the normal level in mostparts.

However, several areas in the region, includingAmbala, Karnal, Rohtak, Ludhiana and Patiala were blinded by athick blanket of fog in the morning hours.

The minimum temperatures hovered between one to fivedegrees Celsius above normal in most parts of the region, theMet office said here today.Patiala settled at a low of 7.9 degrees Celsius, whichwas one notch above normal. While Hisar had a low of 8.4degrees Celsius, one notch above normal, the minimumtemperature at Narnaul was nine degrees Celsius, three notchesabove normal.

Karnal had a low of 9.6 degrees Celsius, two notchesabove normal followed by 10 degrees Celsius at Rohtak, threenotches above normal.

The minimum temperature in Ludhiana was 9.4 degreesCelsius, which was two notches above normal.Amritsar had a lowof 10.4 degrees Celsius, five notches above normal, while theminimum in Chandigarh was 11.5 degrees Celsius, four notchesabove normal.

While Gurgaon settled at a low of 12 degrees Celsius,five notches above normal, the minimum temperature in Bhiwaniwas 13.2 degrees Celsius.The Met forecast further rise in day as well as nighttemperatures in the region during the next two days.