CHANDIGARH | REGION | NATION | SATELLITE PHOTO

North-west in grip of intense cold wave
Chandigarh, December 26
Most of the north-west region shivered under intense cold wave conditions with minimums dipping by two to three degrees celsius in the wake of past two days of fresh snowfall on higher reaches of Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh and Uttaranchal.

REGION

NATION

Read under headings Max (maximum temperature), Min (minimum temperature), R (rainfall in past 24 hours) and TR (Total rain since October 1):

North-west in grip of intense cold wave

Chandigarh, December 26
Most of the north-west region shivered under intense cold wave conditions with minimums dipping by two to three degrees celsius in the wake of past two days of fresh snowfall on higher reaches of Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh and Uttaranchal.

Amritsar, turned out to be the coldest place in plains today as mercury in the low further plumetted to 3.4°C, two degrees below normal.

Srinagar, the summer capital of Jammu and Kashmir reported the low of -1.7°C as forward areas shivered under -5°C to -10°.

The haze and an overcast skies today came to the rescue of the people in and around Chandigarh, Ludhiana Patiala in Punjab, Ambala, Hisar and Rohtak in Haryana from the shivering cold wave conditions. The minimums in these stations, which had dipped by two to four celsius below normal yesterday, rose today by one to two degrees above normal.

Tourists thronging Shimla and other stations in Himachal Pradesh to celebrate ‘white’ Christmas yesterday were disappointed as the snowfall failed to keep its due date.

The minimum in and around Shimla hovered around 5.6°C, two degrees above normal and Bhuntar one degree above normal at 1.9°C today.

However, the state’s high altitude in tribal districts of Lahaul Spiti and Kinnaur and Pangi valley of Chamba district reported fresh snowfall during the past two days. Spiti valley, comprising Lossar and Kibber had heavy snowfall yesterday.

The 3915 mtr Rohtang Pass had 60 cm snow accumulation.

Weathermen here said three systems — western disturbances over Jammu and Kashmir and adjoining north Pakistan, induced upper air cyclonic circulation over north-west Rajasthan and central Pakistan, extending upto 3.1 km above sea level and a trough — were likely to cause rain or snow at few places in the hilly states and isolated rains in the plains of the region over the next 48 hours. UNI

Amritsar coldest in region
Tribune News Service

New Delhi, December 26
Rainfall: Weather was dry over the region.

Temperatures: Past 24 hours change: Minimum temperatures rose appreciably in east Rajasthan, rose in Haryana and changed little elsewhere. Departures: These were above normal in Haryana, east Rajasthan and Uttaranchal and normal in the rest of the region.

The lowest temperature in the plains was 3.4°C recorded at Amritsar (Punjab).

Forecast valid till the morning of December 28: Rain or snow likely at a few places in Himachal and Uttaranchal and at isolated places in and Jammu and Kashmir. Rain or thundershowers likely at isolated places in Haryana and west Uttar Pradesh. Weather will be mostly dry in the rest of the region.

Forecast for Delhi and neighbourhood valid till the morning of December 28: Mainly clear becoming partly cloudy by tomorrow. Fog in the morning. Minimum temperature will be around normal of 7°C.

Farmers weather bulletin for Delhi forecast valid till the morning of December 28: Sky will be clear mainly.

Outlook for the subsequent two days: No major change.

Earthquake report: An earthquake of slight intensity having its mangitude 4.6 on the richter scale occurred at 11.15 a.m. (I.S.T.) on December 25, 2001 with epicentre at latitude 35.71N, longitude 76.08E in Jammu and Kashmir region.