Lucknow and its surrounding regions endured the most severe cold spell of the winter season so far, with the mercury plunging to a chilling 6 degrees Celsius on the night between Saturday and Sunday. This reading was a significant 1.8 degrees below the normal average for this time of year.
Radiation Effect Intensifies Cold
The sharp drop in the night temperature was attributed to a radiation effect. As the fog that had been lingering cleared, it allowed the cold conditions to intensify rapidly. The cold was not confined to the night; even during the daytime, the city continued to shiver under a cold grip.
The cold wave extended beyond the state capital. Several nearby areas also recorded minimum temperatures dipping below the 5-degree mark. Kanpur registered a low of 3.2 degrees Celsius, followed by Etawah at 3.8 degrees and Barabanki at 4.4 degrees. In a stark illustration of the conditions, residents lit bonfires on roads to keep warm throughout the night, and streets remained largely deserted as people chose to stay indoors even on Sunday.
Weather Forecast and Dense Fog Warning
According to weather officials, the prevailing conditions are expected to persist. Mohammad Danish from the state meteorological department stated that while a further drop in day and night temperatures is not anticipated, dense fog is very likely to envelop the city during the morning hours.
On Sunday, the maximum temperature in Lucknow could only reach 16.9 degrees Celsius. The forecast for Monday predicts shallow fog during the late night and morning, with a partly clear sky later in the day. The maximum and minimum temperatures are expected to hover around 17 and 8 degrees Celsius respectively.
State-Wide Dry but Foggy Conditions
The weather across Uttar Pradesh is predicted to remain predominantly dry. However, fog will be a major concern. Dense to very dense fog is very likely at isolated places over West Uttar Pradesh, while isolated areas in East Uttar Pradesh may also experience dense fog.
Other districts reported notably low daytime temperatures as well. Muzaffarnagar recorded the lowest maximum temperature in the state at 12.8 degrees Celsius, with Fatehgarh following at 14.8 degrees. This combination of low day and night temperatures has resulted in widespread cold day and cold night conditions across a significant part of the state, disrupting daily life and highlighting the intensity of this winter phase.
