Residents of Lucknow finally got a break from the biting cold on Saturday as bright sunshine bathed the city early in the morning. The maximum temperature soared to a pleasant 22.8 degrees Celsius, marking a significant departure from the recent chilly conditions.
A Long-Awaited Warm Day
This warm day was a notable event, as it arrived after a gap of 25 days. The last time Lucknow recorded a higher maximum temperature was on December 16, when the mercury touched 24.6 degrees Celsius. Following that, until Friday, daytime temperatures had consistently remained below 20 degrees, even plunging to a low of 5.8 degrees Celsius on December 29 last year. The minimum temperature on Saturday was 6.6 degrees, just a degree below normal.
The Reason Behind the Sudden Warmth
According to weather scientists, this sudden change was driven by a western disturbance hovering over Pakistan and adjoining areas. This system slowed down wind speeds and transformed the cool, icy westerly winds into warmer currents. Senior scientist Mohammad Danish explained that the atmospheric instability increased due to the combined effect of this disturbance and an induced cyclonic circulation over Haryana.
"This led to a significant increase in day temperature by 3-6°C at most places in the region," Danish said. He added that for the first time in many days, the maximum temperature has risen above normal levels. The change in wind pattern also resulted in drier weather and a decrease in fog density.
Temporary Relief, Cold to Make a Comeback
However, the Met office has clarified that this relief is only temporary. Officials predict that temperatures will start falling again from Monday onwards.
"After two days, again a cold spell is likely to make a comeback. However, this drop in temperature will be a gradual one with temperatures dropping by a degree or so," Danish stated. He forecasted shallow fog or mist for Sunday morning with a clearer sky later, with maximum and minimum temperatures around 22 and 10 degrees Celsius respectively. Dense fog is very likely at isolated places over Uttar Pradesh.
The scientist further elaborated that with the influence of the western disturbance decreasing and north-westerly winds picking up from January 12, temperatures are likely to fall by 2-3 degrees Celsius. This will lead to an increase in cold during the evenings and mornings, despite sunshine during the day.
The rise in daytime temperatures and reduction in fog provided much-needed respite from the cold wave across other parts of Uttar Pradesh as well, all influenced by the same weather system.
