At 8.4°C, Chandigarh’s coldest day in 10 years

According to IMD, no respite till Jan 30, dense fog alert for next 48 hours

Lowest day temperature in Chandigarh. (Express Photo)

People of Chandigarh woke up to the coldest day in over 10 years with the maximum daytime temperature dipping to 8.4 degrees Celsius on Wednesday, a departure of 9.9 degrees from the normal temperature. This was the lowest ever maximum temperature after January 8, 2013, when the day temperature was 6.1 degrees. Prior to this, it was in 2011 that maximum temperature had plunged to 7.4 degrees.

As per data with the Meteorological department, the minimum temperature as recorded in the early hours of Wednesday was 3.6 degrees in Chandigarh, a departure of 3.8 degrees from normal. Last year, the maximum day temperature had plummeted down to 11.1 degrees Celsius, which was almost the same for three consecutive years in 2023, 2022 and 2021 where the maximum temperature remained around 11 degrees Celsius and never went below that. Years 2019 and 2020 were also relatively warmer with maximum day temperature settling around 14.4 degrees Celsius and 12.6 degrees Celsius, respectively.

Weather expert and scientist at IMD Shivender Singh said that it is only a western disturbance that can bring relief. “A western disturbance formation is likely to approach Chandigarh and nearby region areas around January 30. Only that can bring the much-required relief as only then fog cover will fade away and the sun will shine bright,” he said.

A red alert continues over Chandigarh for the next 48 hours as not just dense to very dense fog but severe cold day conditions will persist. “The next 48 hours, people will have to be careful as there will be fog and also severe cold days ahead,” he said.

Hina Rohtaki

Hina Rohtaki is a Special Correspondent at The Indian Express, based in Chandigarh. She is one of the most prominent journalists covering the Chandigarh Administration, civic issues, and the unique political status of the Union Territory. Professional Background Experience: She has been in the field for over a decade and is known for her investigative reporting on administrative waste and urban governance. Awards: She is a recipient of the prestigious Ramnath Goenka Excellence in Journalism Award, which was presented to her by the President of India in January 2020. She was also awarded the Jethmalani prize (The Will of Steel Awards) in 2025 in the Empowerment category for a series of articles that highlighted the struggles of Covid widows. Core Beat: Her primary focus is the Chandigarh administrative structure, the Union Territory's financial management, and urban development projects. Recent Notable Articles (Late 2025) Her recent work highlights a focus on government accountability, administrative expenditures, and civic trends: 1. Investigative & Financial Reporting "Fuelling power: Senior UT IAS officers guzzled petrol worth Rs 30 lakh in 2 yrs" (Dec 14, 2025): An investigative report detailing the high fuel bills of top bureaucrats, including the Finance Secretary and Chief Secretary’s staff. "Admn spends Rs 1.5 crore on dismantling road railings and fixing again after increasing height" (Dec 8, 2025): Highlighting administrative waste on "non-viable" solutions for pedestrian control. "Chandigarh’s finances under ministry’s watch now" (Nov 27, 2025): Reporting on the new requirement for MHA approval for all new projects in the UT. 2. Governance & Constitutional Status "What will it mean for Chandigarh if it is brought under Article 240?" (Nov 24, 2025): An "Explained" piece on the potential constitutional shift that would grant the President more power over the UT's governance. "MP Manish Tewari moves Bill seeking directly elected Mayor with 5-year tenure" (Dec 6, 2025): Covering the legislative push to reform Chandigarh's municipal leadership structure. "No proposal to increase Mayor's term in Chandigarh by 5 years: Centre" (Dec 10, 2025): Reporting on the Union government's response to demands for a longer mayoral term. 3. Urban Infrastructure & Environment "Chandigarh admn cuts power to India's tallest air purifier, asks firm to dismantle it" (Nov 17, 2025): A critical report on the failure of a high-cost environmental project deemed "of no use" by experts. "UT rethinks 24/7 water supply project as costs soar" (Nov 26, 2025): Detailing the financial challenges and delays in modernizing the city's water network. "Centre 'obfuscating, covering up' MC's shifting deadlines for clearing Dadu Majra dump" (Dec 12, 2025): Reporting on the ongoing controversy surrounding the city's major waste dump. 4. Lifestyle & Local Trends "Chandigarh turns into a Thar city as women fuel the surge" (Dec 2, 2025): A feature on a unique automotive trend in the city, with a record 600 registrations by women drivers this year. "After fivefold spike in 2023, EV sales struggle to pick pace in Chandigarh" (Dec 2, 2025): Analyzing the slowdown in electric vehicle adoption despite previous surges. Signature Beat Hina is known for her meticulous tracking of RTI (Right to Information) data to expose administrative inefficiency. Her "Ground Zero" reporting on the Dadu Majra garbage dump and her scrutiny of the Chandigarh Smart City projects have made her a key figure in the city’s civil society discourse. X (Twitter): @HinaRohtaki ... Read More

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