Lucknow and large parts of Uttar Pradesh experienced the coldest day of the season this Sunday, as a thick blanket of fog and icy winds gripped the state, sending daytime temperatures plummeting significantly below normal levels.
Mercury Takes a Deep Dive Across Uttar Pradesh
The state capital, Lucknow, recorded a maximum temperature of just 15.3 degrees Celsius, which is a sharp 5.8 degrees Celsius below the normal for this time of year. This officially qualified as a 'cold day condition' according to meteorological standards. However, the chill was even more severe in other regions.
Cities like Hardoi and Bahraich faced 'severe cold day' conditions, with the maximum temperature dropping to a biting 12.5 degrees Celsius. This reading was a staggering nine degrees below the normal mark, highlighting the intensity of the cold wave affecting western parts of the state.
The Science Behind the Intense Chill
Senior scientist at the state meteorological department, Mohammad Danish, explained the unusual weather phenomenon. He attributed the sharp drop in daytime temperatures to a dense layer of 'uplifted fog' hanging about 2 kilometers above the earth's surface. This layer acted as a barrier, blocking sunlight from reaching the ground.
"Cold westerly winds blowing in from the hill regions added to the chill factor," Danish stated. He further detailed that the thick fog has formed due to a constant feed of moisture from the Arabian Sea, which is then condensed by the cold winds. This same foggy layer is also trapping ground heat during the night, preventing it from escaping into the atmosphere and contributing to the overall cold conditions.
Weather Forecast and Expected Conditions
The Met department has predicted that the cold day conditions are likely to persist in Lucknow on Monday. The sky will remain partly cloudy, and dense fog is expected during the morning hours. The maximum and minimum temperatures are forecast to hover around 17 and 10 degrees Celsius, respectively.
For the broader state, the weather is expected to remain dry. However, dense to very dense fog is very likely at a few places over West UP and at many places in East UP. No significant change in these conditions is anticipated until Tuesday for most parts of Uttar Pradesh.
Looking ahead, Danish indicated a possibility of winter rain in the western parts of the state in the first week of January, which could alter the current foggy and cold pattern.
