Chandigarh: The Meteorological Department has sounded an orange alert for cold wave and dense fog in Punjab and Chandigarh today, as the state continues to experience a severe drop in temperatures. Authorities have also issued a yellow alert extending up to the Lohri festival on January 13, warning residents of continued chilly conditions.
Recent observations indicate that daytime temperatures have begun to decline alongside already cold nights. The maximum temperature across the state has fallen by 1.7 degrees in the past 24 hours, now standing 6.1 degrees below normal. Bathinda recorded the lowest minimum temperature at 4.6 degrees Celsius, while Amritsar also reported unusually cold conditions during the day.
The Meteorological Department has forecast dense to very dense fog in several districts including Amritsar, Kapurthala, Jalandhar, Ludhiana, Fatehgarh Sahib, and Patiala. Meanwhile, areas such as Pathankot, Gurdaspur, Tarn Taran, and Hoshiarpur are likely to experience dense fog.
Despite the chilly and foggy conditions, the weather is expected to remain dry over the coming days. The department has not indicated any chances of rainfall during this period, though residents are advised to take precautions against the cold, especially during early morning and late evening hours.
Authorities have urged citizens to avoid unnecessary travel in fog-affected areas and to keep warm, particularly vulnerable groups such as the elderly and children.
