Gurugram shivers at 0.8°C as cold wave grips NCR, plains colder than hills

The cold wave intensified across Gurugram on Wednesday, with the city recording a minimum temperature of 0.8 degrees Celsius, placing it among the coldest locations in North India. Residents continued to endure harsh winter conditions as temperatures hovered close to freezing for the third consecutive day.

The extreme chill comes just days after Gurugram touched 0.6 degrees Celsius on Monday, its lowest temperature in nearly five decades. The reading matched the city’s January 1977 low, with colder conditions recorded only three times in history, underlining the severity of the ongoing cold spell.

The cold wave has spread across the National Capital Region and large parts of northwest India. Delhi recorded a minimum of 3.8 degrees Celsius, while other plains experienced near-freezing temperatures. In contrast, hill stations remained relatively warmer, with Mussoorie and Shimla recording higher minimum temperatures.

Weather officials explained that cloud cover over higher reaches prevented night-time heat loss, keeping hill temperatures elevated. Clear skies and cold northwesterly winds over the plains, however, led to strong radiative cooling, sharply lowering temperatures across cities like Gurugram and Delhi.

The intense cold brought frost and dense fog, affecting visibility and daily life. Frost was seen on crops, vehicles and open fields, while commuters reported hazardous travel conditions due to poor visibility on roads, especially during early morning hours.