National Times Bureau :- Punjab is witnessing a noticeable drop in night temperatures, and the chill is expected to intensify in the coming days. According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), the state’s maximum temperatures currently remain close to normal levels, but the minimum temperatures have slipped below the seasonal average, leading to colder nights across the region. The weather is expected to remain largely dry through the upcoming week, with very little chance of rainfall.
IMD officials have indicated that maximum temperatures may show slight fluctuations, but the minimum temperatures are likely to fall even further. Over the next three to four days, several parts of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh may experience a sharper drop, while select areas in Punjab, Himachal Pradesh, Haryana, Uttarakhand, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, and Uttar Pradesh could see minimum temperatures settling between 7°C and 10°C.
Weather experts say the ongoing La Niña conditions are influencing temperature patterns across North India. While La Niña often brings heavier rainfall during the monsoon, its impact during winter is different—it strengthens cold winds and enhances the overall chill. Reduced visibility due to fog, along with cold-wave-like conditions, may affect road and rail movement in the coming weeks.
Meteorologists believe winter conditions have arrived earlier than usual this year, and the impact of the cold phase may extend up to February.
