Ludhiana, Feb. 3 -- At 18.7deg Celsius, the city's average January maximum temperature was the highest in seven years. The month saw just 6.8 mm rain, making it the driest for the city since 2014.

Compared to last year, the average maximum temperature increased over 5deg. In 2018, the mean maximum temperature for the month was same (18.7deg Celsius). It was 18.5deg Celsius in 2019, 16.5deg in 2020, 16.9deg in 2021, 15.7deg in 2022, 16.5deg in 2023 and 13.5deg in 2024.

The normal average maximum temperature for the month is 18deg Celsius. On 29 January, the maximum temperature was recorded at 24deg Celsius. The last time the mercury crossed 24deg Celsius in January was also in 2018.

This is a sharp contrast from last January which saw l...