Chandigarh (Gurpreet Singh): The first day of 2026 began on a cool and cloudy note in Chandigarh, Panchkula and Mohali, with light rain reported from several localities. The brief spells of drizzle, forecast in advance by the India Meteorological Department (IMD), further lowered temperatures and added to the winter chill in the region.
Across Punjab, Haryana and other parts of northern India, similar weather conditions prevailed, with overcast skies and occasional showers observed through the day. Meteorologists said the ongoing weather activity has strengthened cold conditions, particularly in the plains where sunshine remained limited.
Earlier forecasts from the IMD had indicated the likelihood of light to moderate rainfall and snowfall in the Western Himalayan region between December 30 and January 2. The department had also issued alerts for dense to very dense fog on January 1 in several states, including Punjab, Haryana, Chandigarh, Delhi and parts of eastern Uttar Pradesh.
IMD scientist Dr Naresh Kumar told PTI that the current spell is being driven by an active western disturbance located over North Pakistan. He said its influence is expected to continue over the next few days, bringing precipitation to the hills and light rainfall to some parts of the plains.
According to him, parts of Punjab, Haryana and north Rajasthan may see isolated showers, while the National Capital Region could receive very light rain on New Year’s Day.
Authorities have urged people to take precautions during foggy conditions, as reduced visibility is expected to affect road and rail movement in several northern states.
