Residents of Lucknow faced another day of severely disrupted life as an unusually thick and persistent fog enveloped the state capital on Wednesday, drastically reducing visibility and intensifying the winter chill. The dense blanket, which began forming late Tuesday, turned morning commutes hazardous, with landmarks and vehicles barely discernible through the murky cover.
Visibility Plummets and Temperatures Dive
The fog was so intense that visibility plunged to around 10 metres in several areas, forcing commuters to keep their vehicle headlights switched on well past sunrise. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) reported that the maximum temperature in Lucknow dropped to approximately 17°C, which is 6°C below the seasonal average. The minimum temperature was expected to hover near 10°C, with the cold bite most acute during the early morning hours.
This follows a similarly cold Tuesday, where the city recorded a maximum of 19.1°C, about 4.8 degrees below normal. High humidity levels, fluctuating between 95% and 78%, played a key role in the formation and persistence of the dense fog layer.
Meteorological Causes and Widespread Impact
Senior Scientist at the IMD in Lucknow, Mohammad Danish, explained the widespread weather phenomenon. He attributed the dense fog across multiple Uttar Pradesh districts to an anticyclone over western and adjoining central India. A combination of a strong Tropical Westerly Jet stream, with winds reaching up to 185 kmph at higher altitudes, and an inversion layer in the lower atmosphere trapped moisture and led to the prolonged fog cover.
As a direct consequence, maximum temperatures have fallen by 5 to 6 degrees Celsius across many regions of the state. Other cities felt the brunt as well; Bareilly remained one of the coldest regions with a maximum of around 13°C, while Shahjahanpur also recorded below-normal day temperatures.
Red Alert and Precautionary Measures
The IMD has issued a stern warning, with a red alert in effect for the next two days, followed by an orange alert. Danish stated that Lucknow is likely to remain under dense to very dense fog conditions for the next two to three days. Visibility in the city may drop to 50 metres or less, while districts in the Terai belt along the Nepal border could experience near-zero visibility.
In response to the dangerous conditions, District Magistrate Vishak G ordered all government, aided, and private schools for classes 1 to 12 to begin after 9 am until further notice. This decision prioritises student safety amidst the low visibility and cold wave. The Meteorological Centre has cautioned that overcast skies and cold-day conditions are likely to persist in several UP districts, with poor visibility expected during early mornings and late evenings.
Officials have advised residents, especially road users, to exercise extreme caution until weather conditions show significant improvement. The forecast indicates that large parts of Uttar Pradesh will continue to grapple with this combination of biting cold and persistent fog in the coming days.
