A sharp cold wave gripped Lucknow on Monday, with residents feeling an intense chill despite daytime sunshine. The city's maximum temperature plummeted to 17.1 degrees Celsius, marking a significant drop of 4 degrees below the seasonal normal. The minimum temperature settled at 10.1 degrees Celsius.
Wind Chill Amplifies the Winter Bite
According to senior scientist Mohammad Danish from the Met office, the severe cold felt by citizens was largely due to the 'wind chill' factor. He explained that westerly winds, after passing over snow-clad mountains, dropped drastically in temperature before lashing the plains of Uttar Pradesh. This phenomenon accelerates heat loss from exposed skin, making the air feel much colder than the actual thermometer reading.
"People felt cold during the daytime despite the sunshine," Danish added, comparing the effect to blowing on hot soup to cool it down.
Foggy Mornings and a Temporary Reprieve
The weather office has forecast similar conditions for the next two days. Dense to very dense fog is expected in the morning hours across several districts of Uttar Pradesh, with cool winds persisting during the day. Tuesday is likely to see dense fog in the morning followed by mainly clear skies later. Isolated places in the state may also experience 'cold day' conditions.
A temporary rise in temperature is on the horizon. Due to a fresh western disturbance hovering over Afghanistan, temperatures may increase by 1 or 2 degrees Celsius from Wednesday. However, this relief will be short-lived, as the mercury is predicted to start falling again from January 1.
Dry Spell for Eastern UP Continues
The western disturbance is expected to cause rain in some parts of western Uttar Pradesh. In contrast, Lucknow and the eastern districts of the state will continue to remain dry. The Met office has ruled out any possibility of winter rains in these regions until at least the first week of January.
Residents are advised to brace for continued cold weather, with the wind chill factor playing a crucial role in how the low temperatures are perceived. Warm clothing and caution during foggy morning commutes are recommended.
