The biting cold continues to grip Uttar Pradesh with no signs of relief. Despite earlier forecasts predicting warmer temperatures and less fog, the state has experienced a sharp drop in mercury levels. On Thursday, the average temperature across Uttar Pradesh plummeted to 5.5 degrees Celsius.
Lucknow Records Coldest Night of the Season
Lucknow shivered through its coldest night this winter. The temperature dropped to 5.5 degrees Celsius during the night between Wednesday and Thursday. Other districts faced even harsher conditions. Hardoi district recorded a minimum temperature of just 3 degrees Celsius, highlighting the severity of the cold wave.
IMD Issues Orange Alert for Dense Fog
The India Meteorological Department's center in Lucknow took serious note of the situation. On Friday, they issued an orange alert for very dense fog. This alert covers more than fifty districts across Uttar Pradesh. The warning remains active for the next three days.
Meteorologists predict the fog will intensify both in area and density over the coming two days. They expect these conditions to persist until the morning of January 19th. Visibility is likely to reduce significantly, posing challenges for transportation and daily activities.
Cold Day Warning for 38 Districts
Alongside the fog alert, the IMD also issued a cold day warning. This warning applies to thirty-eight districts where daytime temperatures remain unusually low. Residents in these areas should prepare for prolonged exposure to cold conditions.
District-Wise Breakdown of Alerts
Orange Fog Alert Districts
The orange alert for very dense fog spans across all regions of Uttar Pradesh:
- Eastern UP: Varanasi, Sant Ravi Das Nagar, Jaunpur, Azamgarh, Gorakhpur, Sant Kabir Nagar, and Maharajganj
- Central UP: Farrukhabad, Kannauj, Kanpur Dehat, Kanpur Nagar, Unnao, Rae Bareli, Amethi, Sultanpur, and Ambedkar Nagar
- Western UP: Ghaziabad, Gautam Buddha Nagar, Bulandshahr, Aligarh, Mathura, Hathras, Kasganj, Etah, Agra, Firozabad, Mainpuri, Etawah, Auraiya and surrounding areas
Cold Day Warning Districts
The cold day warning primarily affects western Uttar Pradesh and parts of the Terai belt:
- Western UP: Saharanpur, Shamli, Muzaffarnagar, Baghpat, Meerut, Bijnor, Amroha, Moradabad, Rampur, Bareilly, Pilibhit, Shahjahanpur, Badaun, Sambhal
- Terai Belt: Shravasti, Baraich, Lakhimpur Kheri, and Sitapur
Weather Pattern Shift Expected
Weather experts anticipate a change in conditions by January 19th. The cold day conditions and extreme fog are expected to shift towards eastern Uttar Pradesh. Districts likely to be affected include Varanasi, Jaunpur, Azamgarh, Gorakhpur, Gonda, Shravasti, Balrampur, Sidharthanagar, Maharajganj, Basti, and Kushinagar Deoria.
This shift means residents in eastern regions should prepare for worsening visibility and colder days ahead. The movement of weather patterns across the state requires continuous monitoring by authorities and citizens alike.
The persistent cold wave and dense fog continue to disrupt normal life across Uttar Pradesh. People are advised to take necessary precautions, especially when traveling during early morning and late evening hours. The IMD maintains close watch on developments and will update warnings as needed.
