North India reels under cold wave conditions

New Delhi: North India continues to reel under severe cold wave conditions with fog adversely affecting rail traffic resulting in delay of 45 trains today even as weatherman forecast snowfall in Kashmir Valley and Himachal Pradesh in next few days.

The lowest minimum temperature in the plains was recorded at Rajasthan's Churu at 4.4 degrees Celsius, where 0.4 mm rainfall occurred.

Wintry conditions prevailed in the national capital with the minimum temperature settling at 7 degrees Celsius, a notch below the normal, while morning fog resulted in cancellation of five trains and delayed 45 others.

The maximum temperature was recorded at 19.8 degrees, also a notch below the season's average, a MeT Department official said.

The visibility was recorded at 1,200 mt at 5.30 AM at Safdarjung which after three hours dropped to 400 mt. It improved to 800 mt at 11.30 AM and improved significantly to 1,500 mt at 2.30 PM.

At Palam, the visibility was constant at 300 mt both at 5.30 and 8.30 AM. It improved to 1200 mt at 2.30 PM.

Early morning fog disrupted rail services with 45 north-bound trains running late and 23 being rescheduled and five others cancelled, according to a senior railway official.

Cold wave conditions continued unabated in most parts of Punjab and Haryana with fog adversely affecting air, rail and road traffic in the two states.

Hisar in Haryana was the coldest place in the two states a minimum temperature of 4.5 degrees Celsius, three degrees below normal.

Ambala, Karnal and Narnaul shivered at 8, 4.8 and 8.6 degrees Celsius respectively.

In Chandigarh, minimum temperature was recorded as 6.7 degrees Celsius, one notch above normal, it said.

Amritsar experienced the cold weather at 7.1 degrees Celsius, while Ludhiana and Patiala recorded their minimums temperatures at 7.6 and 7.4 degrees Celsius respectively.

Areas affected due to dense fog were Chandigarh, Hisar, Ludhiana and Amritsar among others.

Kashmir Valley is bracing for another spell of wet weather as rains or snow have been forecast for the next six days. The region is likely to be hit by a fresh western disturbance tomorrow.

Meanwhile, the night temperature across the Valley and Ladakh region continued to settle below freezing point.

Srinagar recorded the minimum of minus 3.3 degrees Celsius, down by two notches from the previous night's minus 0.9 degrees Celsius. 

Leh town of Ladakh region was the coldest recorded place in the state as the mercury there settled at a low of minus 13.9 degrees Celsius, up from previous night's minus 16.8 degrees Celsius.

Kashmir is currently under the grip of 'Chillai-Kalan' considered the harshest period of winter, when the chances of snowfall are maximum and the temperature drops considerably.

'Chillai-Kalan', which, began on December 21, ends on January 31, but the cold wave continues even after that.

Cold wave conditions continue to sweep most parts of Himachal Pradesh, with MeT department issuing a warning of heavy snowfall or rains next week.

High altitude tribal areas and mountain passes had another spell of mild snowfall as strong velocity icy winds lashed the region, causing fall in day temperatures in adjoining valley areas.

Another Western Disturbance lies over north Pakistan and adjoining Afghanistan as an upper air cyclonic circulation which could affect the Himalayan region.

The high altitude tribal areas groaned under piercing cold wave conditions with mercury staying between minus 15 and minus 20 degree Celsius while Keylong in tribal Lahaul and Spiti district recorded a low of minus 12.1 degree Celsius.

In Rajasthan, the temperatures rose by 2 to 3 degrees Celsius at several places even as the weather was dry in the desert state.

Shallow to moderate fog occurred at isolated places in Udaipur division.

Following Churu, which was coldest in the plains at 4.4 degrees Celsius, Sriganganagar recorded a low of 4.8 degrees Celsius. Pilani's low was 5.7 degrees Celsius, followed by Dabok at 8.8 degrees Celsius while Jaipur recorded a low of 9.3 degrees Celsius.

People in Bihar, including Patna, experienced a sunny day while the MeT department forecast a partly cloudy sky tomorrow in major cities of Patna, Gaya, Bhagalpur and Purnea.

During the day, the state capital registered a minimum temperature of 9.3 degrees Celsius against yesterday's 10.7 degrees Celsius.

The maximum temperature of Patna was recorded at 24.6 degrees Celsius against yesterday's 25.9 degree Celsius.

Gaya recorded the minimum temperature of 7.9 degrees Celsius while it registered a highest maximum temperature at 24.9 degrees Celsius.

The state's lowest minimum temperature was also recorded at 7 degrees Celsius at Sabour in Bhagalpur district.

Purnea registered the lowest minimum temperature of 8.3 degrees Celsius in the state while its maximum temperature was recorded at 25 degrees Celsius.

The weatherman has predicted heavy rain or snow at a few places likely over Jammu and Kashmir and Himachal Pradesh and heavy rain at isolated places likely over adjoining plains.

Rainfall at isolated places very likely over Gujarat, south Peninsular India. Dry weather likely over the rest of the country.