Chandigarh: The weather in the northwest plains of Punjab and Haryana today remained dry with cold winds prevailing in the region as the minimum temperatures remained one to two degrees below normal.

Amritsar remained the coldest in the region at 4.0 degree Celsius, one degree below normal. In other parts of Punjab, the minimum temperatures remained normal in Ludhiana and Patiala at 6.4 and 7.5 degrees respectively.

In Haryana, the people had respite from the cold as the minimum temperature was four degrees above normal in Hisar at 9.6 degrees, while it was 7.5 degrees in Ambala and 6.8 degrees in Karnal.

Shimla recorded the minimum of 3.4 degree Celsius, one degree above normal. It was also a degree above normal in Bhuntar at 3.5 degrees. Sundernagar recorded the minimum of 5.4 degrees which was normal.

Westerlies pull down temperatures

The cold westerlies originating from Rajasthan pulled down minimum temperatures across Uttar Pradesh overnight, with Lucknow being the coldest at 7 degree Celsius.

State Met Department told UNI here on Sunday that the strong westerlies brought down rising night temperatures across the State, especially in Lucknow, Allahabad and Jhansi divisions. The State capital was the coldest at 7 degree Celsius.

Cold wind from north

After rising constantly for about a fortnight, temperatures dipped across Madhya Pradesh due to cold winds from north.

The break from falling temperatures had brought a brief respite from cold during the past few days. However mercury dipped by 2-3 degree Celsius compared to a day before at several places.

Meteorological department said Gwalior, Khajuraho and Sheopur Kala recorded lowest temperature at 7 degree. The State capital and Indore registered a minimum of 11 degree compared to 13 degree a day before.

The mercury further dipped by one to two degrees Celsius across Rajasthan and cold wave continued to sweep the State.

The temperature in desert district of Churu plummeted to 4 degree Celsius and the capital Jaipur also witnessed a fall of one degree at 8.2 degree Celsius.

The lowest temperature was recorded in Churu at 3.9 degrees Celsius followed by Udaipur at 5.6 degrees Celsius, Bikaner at 6.5 degrees Celsius and Kota touched 11.8 degree Celsius, met officials informed.

The higher reaches of the twin tribal districts of Lahaul-Spiti and Kinnaur district of Himachal Pradesh experienced a fresh spell of snowfall on Sunday, intensifying the cold wave conditions in the State with maximum and minimum temperatures plummeting by a few degrees at many places.

The intense cold wave conditions sweeping the districts intensified, bringing a sharp fall in the maximum and minimum temperatures, which were being recorded between minus 10 and minus 20 degree Celsius.

The 13,050-foot Rohtang Pass, the gateway to Lahual district, remained closed for vehicular traffic with the Pass experiencing another spell of snowfall.

Water sources frozen

Many natural water sources in the district were frozen, reducing water discharge in the major rivers of the State and adversely affecting power generation on many hydel projects on these rivers. The sun played hide and seek in Shimla and its surrounding areas and the minimum temperature was down to 3.4 degree Celsius, (two degrees above normal). -- UNI

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