Mercury drops to 6.5 Degree Celsius

New Delhi, Dec 19 (UNI) The mercury in the capital today continued its downwards movement, after a warm weekend, for the second consecutive day with the minimum temperature dropping to a low of 6.5 degree Celsius.

It was another chilly morning which greeted Delhiites today as the cold Easterly winds led to a drop in minimum temperature from 7.9 degree yesterday to 6.5 degree, which was slightly below normal.

The maximum temperature also dropped to 23 degree from 23.6 degree yesterday.

The chill in the air may persist, and even intensify, by the end of the week with the weathermen forecasting another spell of rainfall in plains of Northwest India and snowfall in Jammu and Kashmir and Himachal Pradesh during the next 48 hours, under the influence of a fresh Western disturbance.

''Snowfall activity is likely at a few places over Jammu and Kashmir and Himachal Pradesh and isolated rain/thundershowers over Punjab during the next 48 hours,'' the weatherman said.

So, while there may be a slight rise in night temperature tomorrow and day after, the mercury in NorthWest Indian plains could fall further from Friday onwards.

''Night temperatures over plains of Northwest India and Gangetic plains are likely to fall from December 22 onwards,'' the weathermen said.

The weather office has forecast mainly clear sky in Delhi during the next 24 hours with likelihood of mist or slight fog in the morning. The minimum temperature tomorrow would be eight Degree C, they said.

After a relatively warm weekend which saw the mercury rise to 10.6 Degree Celsius, the last two days have witnessed a drop in mercury.

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