A scientist from the India Meteorological Department (IMD) in Chandigarh, Shivinder Singh, explained that the recent rain on Thursday caused a drop in temperature and increased humidity, elevating the likelihood of dense fog, particularly in open fields and isolated roads during the early morning hours. The IMD has issued a yellow alert for dense fog in and around the city for the next two days.
Dense fog is officially declared when visibility falls below 250 meters. The yellow warning, part of IMD’s four-color warning system, advises people to remain vigilant and stay informed. Precautions, especially during early morning driving, are recommended.
Despite the season usually witnessing dense fog in the second half of December, the city has not yet experienced it this season. The impact of Thursday’s rain could potentially bring about early occurrences of dense fog.
The city’s recent weather fluctuations were noteworthy, with a record 54.5 mm of rain causing the maximum temperature to drop to 16.6°C. However, a day later, the temperature rose to a warmer 23.5°C, although still two degrees below normal. The minimum temperature also slightly dropped from 15°C to 11.8°C, just one degree above normal.
Looking ahead, the forecast indicates that the maximum temperature will hover around 25°C, while the minimum temperature will be around 10°C over the next three days.
On a positive note, the city’s air quality showed improvement after the substantial rainfall on Thursday. The Air Quality Index (AQI) at various monitoring stations was categorized as “satisfactory” and “good,” signaling a positive impact on air quality.
