Ludhiana: A sharp winter chill has deepened across the district following a day of intermittent rain, rising humidity, and a brief afternoon hailstorm that sent residents scrambling for cover.The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has reported that daytime temperatures fell to 16°C on Tuesday — four degrees below the seasonal average — marking a significant intensification of winter conditions. The district recorded 3.2mm of precipitation by evening, as sunless skies and a persistent drizzle kept most residents indoors.
Meteorologists warn that the combination of moisture and falling temperatures has set the stage for a severe “cold wave” and hazardous visibility issues. Humidity levels surged from 90% in the morning to 96% by evening, prompting warnings of “dense to very dense fog” through to Jan 30.Pavneet Kaur Kingra, head of the climate change and agricultural meteorology department at Punjab Agricultural University (PAU), urged the public to prepare for increasingly harsh conditions. “The prevailing weather is conducive for a cold wave and dense fog starting tomorrow,” Kingra said. “Farmers and the general public must remain cautious, especially during early morning hours when visibility may be severely reduced.“The IMD’s fog alert has also raised concerns regarding travel, with potential disruptions expected for road, rail, and air traffic across the region over the next 72 hours. For many locals, the rare combination of rain and piercing cold proved a miserable mix. “I usually love the rain, but winter showers are a different animal,” said Amrit, a local commuter. “The chill and the damp together are just brutal.”
