Chandigarh witnessed its chilliest January day in almost a decade as the maximum temperature plunged to 10.5°C, marking the coldest day since 2015, according to the India Meteorological Department (IMD). The absence of sunlight during the day attributed to this significant drop from the previous day’s 13.8°C, making it the coldest day of the season.
IMD officials highlighted that this dip was notably below the normal range by 5.7°C, categorizing it as a ‘cold day’ as per regional standards. Such a classification is declared when the maximum temperature falls between 4.5 to 6.4 degrees below the seasonal average, coupled with the minimum temperature dipping below 10°C.
This frigid spell stands as the coldest since 2015, although the exact date of that year’s lowest temperature wasn’t specified, while records from January 2013 indicated a maximum temperature of 9.9°C.
Despite a fresh western disturbance impacting the region, IMD forecasts a gradual rise in temperatures starting Thursday. Earlier instances this season saw three cold days in December and January, with December 31 marking a severe cold day when temperatures plummeted over 6.5 degrees below the norm.
Remarkably, Chandigarh’s daytime temperatures were lower than several North Indian hill stations, with Shimla recording a maximum of 12.6°C, Solan at 18.5°C, and Dharamshala at 19°C, despite sporadic snowfall in parts of Himachal Pradesh. The city’s daytime temperatures also dipped below those in parts of Kashmir, signaling the severity of the cold spell.
IMD Chandigarh Director AK Singh attributed the temperature drop to the absence of sunlight, citing partly cloudy weather and moderate fog. The adverse weather conditions led to low visibility, causing cancellations and delays in flights at Shaheed Bhagat Singh International Airport.
While visibility improved from moderate to shallow fog during the morning hours, the minimum temperature rose slightly to 8.2°C, 1.7 degrees above normal due to partly cloudy skies at night. IMD’s forecasts indicate a marginal rise in temperatures in the coming days, with maximum temperatures expected between 12°C and 15°C and minimum temperatures hovering between 6°C and 8°C.
Sources By Agencies