Hilly regions shiver, plains record slight rise in temp

New Delhi: Cold conditions prevailed in the hilly regions of northern states as also in the plains of Punjab and Haryana while elsewhere the mercury recorded a marginal rise.

It was a pleasant day in the national capital with the minimum temperature settling at 8.4 degrees Celsius, two notches above the season’s average, even as foggy conditions in the morning affected train services.

The maximum temperature settled two notches above normal at 24.6 degrees Celsius.

Eighteen north-bound trains were running late by at least two hours and eight others have been rescheduled due to foggy conditions, said a Railway spokesperson.

The visibility was recorded at 600 meters 5.30 AM which after three hours improved to 1000 meters, said a MeT official.

The biting coldwave conditions continued unabated in higher hills and tribal areas of Himachal Pradesh though mercury rose marginally and foothill areas had some relief.

The local MeT office has predicted dry weather in the state over next six days but rains or snow at isolated places on February 15 and from February 17 onwards as another fresh western disturbance is likely to affect western Himalayan region from February 14 night onwards.

There was marginal improvement in minimum temperatures and Keylong and Kalpa in tribal Lahaul and Spiti and Kinnaur districts recorded a low of minus 10.6 degree and minus 3.6 degree, while Manali shivered at zero degree C.

Cold weather conditions continued to prevail in most parts of Punjab and Haryana and several places in the two states recorded below normal minimum temperatures.

While Amritsar reeled under severe chill at 4 degrees Celsius, two notches below normal, Karnal was the coldest place in Haryana at a low of 4.8 degrees Celsius, five notches below normal.