Residents of Lucknow faced a severe disruption on Tuesday morning as the state capital was enveloped in the season's thickest fog blanket. Visibility in several parts of the city plummeted to as low as 30 metres, severely hampering the early morning commute and daily routines.
City Grinds to a Halt Amid Zero Visibility
The intense fog layer covered residential colonies, open fields, and major arterial roads. The conditions forced drivers to use their headlights during the morning hours for safety. Officials from the India Meteorological Department (IMD) noted that the poor visibility persisted until around 10 am, after which a slow clearing process began through the day.
IMD Explains Cause and Issues Forecast
Senior scientist at IMD Lucknow, Mohammad Danish, explained the reason behind the extreme weather event. "Thick fog resulted from an increase in atmospheric moisture coupled with cold winds driven by a western disturbance," he stated. These factors led to condensation near the surface, creating the dense fog. Danish added that while Lucknow might see gradual improvement after Wednesday, eastern parts of Uttar Pradesh and the Terai belt could experience similarly poor visibility for another three to four days.
The Met Department has predicted that the dense fog conditions are likely to persist across the region until Friday. However, visibility is expected to improve gradually after sunrise each day. The mornings and evenings will continue to remain chilly over the next few days.
Temperature Drop and Regional Impact
Accompanying the fog was a notable drop in temperature. While Monday's maximum temperature was recorded at 25°C, it fell to 19°C on Tuesday. Met officials confirmed that the maximum temperature had fallen by nearly six degrees compared to the previous week, although no further sharp decline is anticipated immediately.
The disruption was not confined to Lucknow alone. Several districts in the Terai and eastern Uttar Pradesh regions reported near-zero visibility, with cities like Bareilly and Bahraich being among the worst affected. Commuters and authorities in these areas are advised to exercise extreme caution during the early morning and late evening hours until the fog conditions subside.
