Chandigarh recorded the lowest minimum temperature of this winter season on the last day of 2020. The minimum temperature dropped to 2.7°C (three notches below normal) making it the coldest night of December. The night was even colder than Shimla, which recorded the minimum temperature of 3°C.
Last year winter, the lowest minimum temperature was 2.9°C on December 29, while the maximum temperature was 16.3°C.
Meanwhile, the first day of the year is expected to be partly cloudy while January 2 and 3 are likely to see thundershowers/light rain, as per the Meteorological Department.
There was no let-up in the cold wave sweeping Haryana and Punjab on Friday, with Hisar reeling at minus 1.2°C. A thick blanket of fog enveloped the two states in the morning, reducing visibility levels.
Among other places in Haryana, a severe chill gripped Narnaul, which recorded a low of 0.2°C. Sirsa, Ambala, Karnal, Rohtak and Bhiwani experienced a cold night as well at 2°C, 4.4°C, 3.5°C, 2°C and 3.9°C, respectively.
On New Year’s Day, a severe cold wave swept Delhi as the mercury plummeted to 1.1°C, the lowest in 14 years, and “very dense” fog lowered visibility to “zero” metre, affecting traffic movement.
In winter, January 8, 2006, the city had recorded a minimum of 0.2 degree Celsius.
