Weather alert: Chandigarh likely to ring in a 'wet' new year
The IMD has predicted scattered to fairly widespread light to moderate rainfall or snowfall across the Western Himalayan region from December 30 to January 2
A wet start to the new year is in store for Punjab and Haryana, with isolated light to moderate rainfall expected on January 1, 2026. As per the India Meteorological Department (IMD), there’s a possibility of rain and dense fog across the region, reducing visibility and disrupting travel plans.
The cold wave shows no signs of letting up, with Hisar in Haryana recording a bone-chilling 2.1 degrees Celsius, three degrees below normal. Chandigarh, the joint capital of Punjab and Haryana, registered a minimum of 7.2 degrees Celsius, one degree below normal. Other places in Haryana, including Ambala, Karnal and Rohtak, also experienced cold temperatures, ranging from 5.5 to 8.6 degrees Celsius.
In Punjab, Ballowal Saunkhri in Shaheed Bhagat Singh Nagar district was the coldest place, with a low of 2.4 degrees Celsius. Amritsar, Ludhiana and Patiala also experienced dense fog, reducing visibility to less than 50 metres. The Ministry of Civil Aviation has issued a warning about potential flight delays at select airports in Northern India due to dense fog conditions.
The IMD has predicted scattered to fairly widespread light to moderate rainfall or snowfall across the Western Himalayan region from December 30 to January 2. Isolated snowfall and rain are also expected over Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand during the same period.
