Cold wave sweeps north India; Leh records minus 12 deg C

Cold wave swept in several parts of north India today with Leh in Ladakh region experiencing the coldest night of the season at minus 12 degrees Celsius and higher hills of Himachal Pradesh receiving another spell of moderate snowfall.

Delhiites woke up to a chilly morning with the mercury dipping to 6.8 degrees Celsius, a drop of nearly five notches from yesterday when the minimum settled at 11.5 degrees. According to MeT officials, today's low was two notches below the season's average.

In Jammu and Kashmir, Leh experienced the coldest night of the season so far as the mercury plunged 12 degrees below freezing point. Leh recorded a minimum of minus 12.1 degrees Celsius -- down by over seven degrees from the previous night's minus 4.6 degrees.

The night temperature in Srinagar -– the summer capital -– decreased marginally. The city recorded a low of minus 0.8 degrees as against 0.6 degrees the previous night.

Most parts of Himachal Pradesh shivered under piercing cold wave conditions as high altitude tribal areas and other higher ranges received another spell of moderate snowfall and foggy conditions prevailed in mid and lower hills.

The mercury dropped by a few notches and Keylong in tribal Lahaul and Spiti district recorded minimum temperature at minus 4.6 degrees Celsius while Manali and Kalpa recorded a low of minus 3 degree and minus 2.2 degree Celsius.

The high altitude tribal areas groaned under biting cold wave conditions with minimum temperatures staying between minus eight and minus 14 degrees Celsius.

Dark convective clouds overcast the sky in state capital Shimla and strong velocity icy winds swept the region causing sharp fall in day temperature which dropped to 8.8 degrees Celsius, forcing people to stay indoors.

Meanwhile, cold wave conditions swept many parts of Haryana and Punjab, with Narnaul turning out to be the coldest place at 2.5 degrees Celsius.

Narnaul in Haryana reeled under biting chill as the minimum temperature today dropped four notches below normal level. While Hisar experienced a cold night at 4.5 degrees Celsius, three notches less than normal, minimum temperature in Ambala however, settled within the normal limits at 9.3 degrees Celsius.

In Punjab, Amritsar had a cold night at 6 degrees Celsius while Ludhiana also experienced the chill at 6.8 degrees Celsius.