Mercury drops to 7.9 Degree C, more chill expected later this week

New Delhi, Dec 18 (UNI) After a warm and sunny weather during the weekend which saw the minimum temperature rise to 10.5 degrees Celsius, cold North Easterly winds today brought about a sharp drop in mercury to 7.9 degrees Celsius.

The maximum also dropped to 23.4 degrees Celsius, from 26.5 degrees C yesterday.

Cold Northwesterly winds send Delhiites in a shiver, specially during the morning hours.

Though weathermen have forecast a rise in mercury in the next few days, they said the later part of the week could witness a return to icy cold conditions under the influence of a fresh Western disturbance.

''A western disturbance is approaching and it is likely to cause snowfall activity over western Himalayan region on Wednesday and Thursday and isolated rain or thundershowers over Punjab,''the weathermen said.

So, while night temperatures were likely to increase by two or three degrees C over plains of Northwest India, Gangetic plains and adjoining Central India from Wednesday to Friday, the subsequent days could witness a fall in mercury.

''Foggy conditions are also likely to develop over some parts of NorthWest India from December 21,''the weathermen said.

They have forecast a partly cloudy sky in Delhi during the next 24 hours with possibility of rain and thundershowers in some areas.

The minimum temperature could rise to 10 degrees C.

After the dense fog and icy winds of Tuesday and Wednesday, there has been an improvement in visibility levels and minimum temperatures since Thursday.

Bright sunlight led to a rise in minimum temperature to 8.5 degrees Celsius, one degree above normal, on Thursday and to 10.6 degrees C on Friday, three degrees above normal.

UNI AR VD VV1809