Cold wave to abate after Dec 15: IMD

The cold wave conditions prevailing in parts of northwest India were likely to abate after December 15, said a bulletin issued by the India Meteorological Department (IMD) on Friday. No significant change in minimum temperature was likely in the region over the next two days, it added.

The IMD had earlier issued a warning for severe cold wave conditions at a few places in Punjab on December 14 and 15, along with ground frost at isolated places in Adampur and Faridkot areas.

Over the past 24 hours, the maximum temperature in the state hovered between 18.4°C (at Thein Dam, near Pathankot), and 23.1°C (Faridkot). The minimum temperature remained between 1.1°C (Sangrur) and 9.8°C (Mohali).

During that period, the weather remained dry in the state, though cold to severe cold wave conditions were observed at a few places, the IMD said.

Rainfall has also been severely deficient this month. From December 1 to December 13, the state received 0.2 mm rainfall against the long period average of 2.6 mm, marking a shortfall of 91 per cent.