CHANDIGARH, Dec 17: A sharp dip in day temperatures coupled with the season’s first spell of fog swept across the Chandigarh-Mohali-Panchkula tricity on Wednesday, lending a distinct winter edge to the region and cutting visibility during morning and evening hours.
Panchkula recorded the lowest maximum temperature in the tricity at 18 degrees Celsius, a plunge of 6.5 degrees from the previous day and the steepest fall in the area. Chandigarh’s IAF airport observatory followed with a maximum of 19.1 degrees, down 5.1 degrees, while the city observatory reported a comparatively higher 23 degrees, though still cooler than earlier in the week.
“High humidity and calm wind conditions have created favorable circumstances for fog formation,” an official at the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said. “This is the first widespread fog event of the season for the plains in this region.”
Night temperatures showed a marginal rise despite the daytime cooling. Chandigarh city recorded a minimum of 8.3 degrees, the IAF airport station 8.5 degrees, and Panchkula 8 degrees, indicating relatively milder nights.
Across the wider region, minimum temperatures ranged from 5.6 degrees at Narnaul to about 11–12 degrees at a few locations, while maximum temperatures varied between 18 degrees and nearly 27 degrees. Anandpur Sahib in Punjab emerged as one of the warmer pockets.
Relative humidity in Chandigarh touched 95% during morning hours before dropping to around 53% by afternoon, the IMD said. Dense to very dense fog was reported at isolated places in Punjab and dense fog at isolated locations in Haryana over the past 24 hours.
The weather office has forecast dense to very dense fog at a few places in the tricity over the next two days, followed by dense fog at isolated spots on Saturday. Maximum temperatures are expected to hover around 21–22 degrees, with minimums between 8 and 9 degrees.
“People should be cautious while commuting early in the morning or late in the evening as visibility may reduce suddenly,” the IMD official said.
