Punjab appears headed for a sharper winter this year, with December expected to be significantly colder than usual. The early winter bite has already begun, thanks to a mix of active western disturbances and the strengthening La Niña effect, both of which are driving temperatures downward across the state.
In recent days, the chill has become far more noticeable in major cities. Jalandhar is seeing daytime temperatures around 26°C while nights are slipping close to 11°C. Amritsar is following the same pattern with highs near 26°C and lows around 11°C. Ludhiana is slightly milder during the day at 25–26°C, but early mornings continue to dip to 11–12°C. These steady drops in morning and night temperatures clearly show that winter has begun setting in ahead of schedule.
Since the beginning of November, frequent western disturbances have pushed temperatures into a steady decline, leading to noticeably colder nights and brisk early mornings. Minimum temperatures in many parts of Punjab are already up to 2°C below normal, signalling that winter has arrived earlier than usual.
Weather projections show that maximum temperatures in the northern and eastern districts will hover between 24°C and 26°C until mid-November. Other regions of the state are likely to record daytime temperatures in the 26°C to 28°C range, keeping the chill intact through the month.
Night-time temperatures are expected to fall further. Districts like Pathankot, Gurdaspur and Amritsar may see lows between 6°C and 8°C, while most other areas could remain in the 8°C to 10°C bracket. Northern and western belts of the state are likely to stay slightly below their usual temperature range.
A major factor behind this intensified winter is the La Niña phenomenon, which generally impacts North India during December. La Niña occurs when sea surface temperatures in the central and eastern Pacific Ocean drop more than normal. This shift affects global wind patterns, allowing colder air masses to travel more freely across Asia — including India.
In simple terms, cooler ocean waters strengthen cold winds, making winters more intense and sometimes altering rainfall behaviour. Historically, La Niña years have brought stronger cold spells to North India between October and December, often leading to heavier snowfall in the hills and sharper temperature drops across the plains.
This year is no different. With La Niña strengthening and western disturbances expected to stay active, Punjab — along with much of North India — is likely to experience a noticeably colder December, with the possibility of cold-wave conditions developing in several regions.