Minimum drops of 2.8 °C in Chandigarh | No Lohri respite for Tricity as temperatures dip further

Artisans working in a factory using bonfires for warmth amid cold weather in Jalandhar. (ANI Photo)

The day began under a thick blanket of dense fog across the Tricity on Tuesday, setting the tone for an intense cold spell a day after Chandigarh, Panchkula and Mohali shivered through a freezing Lohri night. Chandigarh recorded a minimum temperature of 2.8 degrees Celsius late on Tuesday — coldest of the season — dampening festive cheer despite blazing bonfires in neighbourhoods.

According to the Chandigarh Weather Observatory, the minimum temperature was four degrees below normal, while the maximum temperature during the day settled at 15.2 degrees Celsius, three degrees below the seasonal average. High moisture levels in the air worsened the chill, with maximum relative humidity touching 94 per cent and minimum at 65 per cent, making the cold feel even more piercing.

Dense to very dense fog engulfed the Tricity during early morning hours, drastically reducing visibility on major roads and highways.

Meteorological officials reported very dense fog not only in Chandigarh but also in several parts of Punjab and Haryana. Commuters were seen driving cautiously, while early morning traffic moved at a slow pace due to poor visibility conditions.

While residents battled the biting cold, air quality also remained a concern. As per data released by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) at 4 pm on January 13, Chandigarh recorded an Air Quality Index (AQI) of 234, placing it in the ‘Poor’ category. Panchkula fared even worse with an AQI of 284, also classified as ‘Poor’.

Experts attribute the poor air quality to prevailing winter conditions.

As per weather department experts, low wind speed, temperature inversion and persistent fog trap pollutants close to the surface, leading to a spike in pollution levels, especially during night and early morning hours. The weather department has also advised people, particularly children, senior citizens and those with respiratory ailments, to limit outdoor exposure and wear masks when stepping out.

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has forecast the continuation of cold and foggy conditions across the Tricity over the next five days.

On January 14 and 15, the region is expected to witness mostly cloudy skies accompanied by dense fog, particularly during morning and night hours. The maximum temperature is likely to range between 14 degrees Celsius and 16 degrees Celsius, while the minimum temperature may hover between 5 degrees Celsius and 6 degrees Celsius.

From January 16, a slight improvement in weather conditions is expected. The IMD has predicted partly cloudy skies with dense fog in the mornings. Day temperatures are expected to gradually climb to around 17 degrees Celsius on January 16 and 17, and touch nearly 18 degrees Celsius by January 18. Night temperatures are also likely to rise marginally, settling between 8 degrees Celsius and 10 degrees Celsius over the weekend.

However, the weather department has cautioned that fog will continue to pose a challenge for commuters, potentially affecting road, rail and air traffic during early morning hours.