Gurugram Battles Extreme Cold; Even Shimla and Mussoorie Lag Behind

Gurugram, Haryana: The biting cold in Gurugram continues to break records, surpassing temperatures in hill stations like Shimla and Mussoorie. On Wednesday morning, the minimum temperature in Gurugram dropped to a chilling 0.8°C, according to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), making it the coldest city in the Delhi-NCR region during the night. Despite the harsh cold, daytime temperatures rose to a comfortable 18°C, providing some relief. IMD forecasts suggest further improvement in weather from Thursday, with minimum and maximum temperatures expected to be 7°C and 21°C, respectively.

Frost and Fog Intensify Across Haryana
The extreme cold was accompanied by dense frost and fog, creating hazardous conditions in several parts of Haryana. Fields, grass, and even vehicle windshields around Gurugram were covered with frost. The auto weather station at Gurugram had recorded a low of 0.6°C just a few days earlier, matching the record from 22 January 1977. Historically, Gurugram has recorded such extreme lows only a few times: -0.4°C on 5 December 1966, 0°C on 11 January 1970, and 0.3°C on 22 January 1979.

Clear Skies Worsen Nighttime Cold
The unusually low temperatures were intensified by clear skies and strong northwesterly winds blowing from the Himalayas. While cloud cover in the hills kept nighttime temperatures slightly higher, the plains, including Gurugram, experienced rapid cooling.

Cold in Hill Stations
Meanwhile, temperatures in hill stations were relatively higher: Mussoorie recorded 7.7°C and Shimla 8.8°C. Delhi’s Safdarjung station registered a minimum of 3.8°C. IMD experts noted that dry northwestern winds from the Himalayas flowing into the northeastern plains of India contribute to a sharp drop in nighttime temperatures.

Residents are advised to take precautions against the intense cold, especially during early mornings and late nights, as frost and fog continue to disrupt daily life across Haryana and the Delhi-NCR region.