Slight respite from cold in north

Cold kept up its intensity in the hills of Jammu and Kashmir and Himachal though the plains in north soaked up the sun on a clear day today.
The national capital bathed in sunlight throughout the day and recorded a maximum of 25.1 and a minimum of 10.2 degrees Celsius. Clouds may hang over the city sky tomorrow and there is a possibility of mist or haze in the morning.
The minimum temperature in many parts of Jammu and Kashmir was still below the freezing point though there was slight respite from cold in the Valley.
Leh recorded its coldest February night since 2013 as the mercury there settled at a low of minus 16.3 degrees Celsius. The town had recorded a low of minus 18.8 degrees Celsius on February 9, 2013.

Srinagar had a low of minus 1.1 degrees Celsius, Qazigund minus 1.6, Gulmarg minus 6.5, Pahalgam 6.4, Kupwara minus 3.8 and Kokernag 0.1 degree Celsius, the only place in Kashmir where the minimum temperature stayed above the freezing point.
There is a possibility of isolated rainfall or snow over two days from tomorrow.

While intense cold conditions continued unabated in tribal areas and other higher hills of Himachal Pradesh, the lower hills had some relief from cold as mercury rose by few notches.
The high altitude tribal areas continued to reel under piercing cold conditions with minimum temperatures staying between minus 15 and minus 22 degree Celsius.

Keylong and Kalpa in tribal Lahaul and Spiti and Kinnaur districts recorded a low of minus 12.5 and minus 2 degrees Celsius. Manali shivered at 0.4, while Bhuntar and Sundernagar recorded minimum temperatures at 4 and 4.1 degrees Celsius.
Mercury rose to 27 degrees at Una, while Bhuntar and Sundernagar were warmer at 23.5 and 23.2 degrees, followed by Solan 22.5, Nahan 22.4, Shimla 18.9, Dharmshala 16.6, Manali 16 and Kalpa 7 degrees Celsius.
The MeT office has predicted rains or snow in the region from February 17 onwards as another Western Disturbance lies over the region.
Cold conditions continued to prevail in Punjab and Haryana even as minimum temperatures hovered around normal level in most parts of both states.

Chandigarh recorded minimum temperature at 8.5 degrees Celsius, while Amritsar in Punjab braved cold weather at 6 degrees Celsius. Ludhiana and Patiala witnessed lows of 7.6 and 9.6 degrees Celsius respectively.
In Haryana, Ambala and Narnaul recorded minimums at 10.2 and 9 degrees Celsius respectively. Hisar and Karnal experienced cold conditions at 7.5 and 7.4 degrees Celsius respectively.
The MeT department predicted dry weather conditions in Punjab and Haryana in next 24 hours.