Chandigarh Records Daytime Chill Colder Than Manali Amid Fog and Winter Weather
Typically, Manali sets the standard for winter cold in North India. However, on Friday, Chandigarh experienced a daytime chill that briefly outdid the famous hill station. The city recorded a maximum temperature of 13°C, slightly lower than Manali’s 13.2°C, making the plains colder than the mountains during the day.
Daytime Temperatures Remain Below Normal
Data from the IMD Chandigarh Observatory revealed that while the minimum temperature hovered around 9.5°C, the defining feature was the sharply suppressed daytime maximum. From late morning to evening, the city saw little temperature recovery, keeping the atmosphere uniformly cold throughout the day.
Despite minimal fog, the cold felt bone-chilling, with visibility dropping to around 600 meters at times. Intermittent shallow fog and mist appeared mainly during morning and evening hours. Cloud cover and calm winds limited solar heating, preventing significant daytime warmth.
Rainfall Adds to the Chill
Chandigarh received 13.7 mm of rainfall over the previous 24 hours, leaving surfaces damp and further suppressing temperatures. The combination of rainfall, cloud cover, and calm winds ensured that the city remained colder than usual for the plains, rivaling the winter chill typically experienced in hill stations like Manali.
Comparison With Manali Highlights Cold Air Influence
The fact that Chandigarh’s daytime temperature dipped below Manali’s – which sits over 2,000 meters above sea level – highlights the strong influence of cold air across the region. While Manali is expected to remain cold throughout January, the plains of Chandigarh briefly mirrored this winter intensity.
Weather Outlook for Chandigarh
The IMD forecast predicts mostly cloudy skies with dense fog during night and morning hours over the next several days. Maximum temperatures are expected to range between 14°C and 16°C, while minimums may fluctuate from 6°C to 8°C. Fog-related disruptions, particularly affecting morning visibility and transport, are likely to continue, though dry weather conditions are expected overall.
For Chandigarh, Friday was a day when the plains briefly borrowed the chill of hill stations, offering residents a rare experience of winter intensity in the city.
