'Cold' Chandigarh bids adieu to 2009

CHANDIGARH: Wrapped in fog, the city bid adieu to 2009 in a cold manner. The maximum temperature dropped to 19 degrees Celsius, the season's lowest until now, and the minimum temperature was recorded at 3.4 degrees Celsius.
The weathermen said both the maximum and minimum temperatures recorded on Thursday were three degrees below normal.
This is the lowest maximum temperature of this winter so far.
Though winter season is at its peak, western disturbances passing through the region have further caused the temperature to drop.
"The northern region will witness heavy fog and mist during morning as well as the night hours," said Chatar Singh, director of UT meteorological centre.
Forecast issued for the next 24 hours stated that the city will have clear sky with mist or fog during the night and morning hours.
Meanwhile, a sharp fall in temperature was reported in other prominent cities of Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh and Jammu and Kashmir.
Ambala witnessed the maximum fall in temperature at 17.2 degrees Celsius, four degrees below normal, and minimum at 0.8, six degrees below normal.
The maximum temperature in Bhunter was 15.4 degrees Celsius and minimum was -1 degrees Celsius.
While Amritsar recorded the maximum at 16.6 degree Celsius and minimum at -0.6 degree Celsius, Ludhiana recorded 20 and 3.1 degree Celsius, Karnal 21.8 and 3.6 degree Celsius, Shimla 12.6 and 2.8 degree Celsius, Hisar 21.8 and 6 degree Celsius, Patiala 19.2 and 4.3 degree Celsius and Srinagar 11.2 and -4 degree Celsius, respectively.
Met officials have predicted cold to severe cold wave conditions in Haryana and Punjab which are likely to continue during the next two days.
Though mainly dry weather, ground frost is likely to occur at many places in Haryana and Punjab during the next two nights.