Uttar Pradesh hit by Cold Wave

(Times of India) Even as the minimum temperatures remained below normal in the state with Sarsawa in Saharanpur recording 5.4 degrees Celsius, the lowest in the plains, the weatherman has predicted further drop in mercury levels in the coming days due to snowfall in the hill regions of north India.

The minimum temperature in the city on Thursday was 7.5 degrees Celsius, a marginal rise from 7.1 degrees recorded on Wednesday. The city had recorded the lowest temperature of this winter on Wednesday. There will be no significant change in weather conditions in the city and the state during next 24 hours.

State Met director JP Gupta said the minimum temperature in the city was four degrees below normal. In rest of the state, minimum temperatures were 2-5 degrees below normal. "There will be no significant change in the temperatures during next 48 hours but thereafter they will drop further by 2-3 degrees. The snowfall witnessed in the hill regions on Thursday due to western disturbance is responsible for the chill factor. The chill will intensify after snowfall is over and western disturbance fizzles out. Drizzles were reported from a few places in west UP bordering Uttarakhand," he said.

Rain/thundershowers may occur at one or two places in west UP during next 24 hours. The minimum temperature in Kanpur on Thursday was 7.4 degrees Celsius, Allahabad 10.4 degrees Celsius, Varanasi 10.2 degrees Celsius, Agra 8.3 degrees Celsius, Rae Bareli 7.6 degrees Celsius, Shahjahanpur 7.5 degrees Celsius and Gorakhpur 7.2 degrees Celsius. The winter not only arrived early this year but is also expected to more severe in comparison to last year when November and December were 'warm' and January saw extreme foggy and chilly conditions for more than 15 days at a stretch.