Another foggy day in Delhi, mercury rises to 8.3 Degree C

New Delhi, Dec 21 (UNI) For the second consecutive day, fog enveloped the Delhi skyline today, reducing visibility levels during the morning hours even as the mercury rose to 8.3 degrees Celsius.

The fog led to a drop in visibility to nearly 200 m during morning hours. However, a spokesperson of the Airport Authority of India said there were no flight delays at the international airport due to fog.

The minimum temperature today rose to 8.3 degrees Celsius, from 7.8 degrees Celsius yesterday. The maximum also rose to 24 degree C, from 22.7 degrees C yesterday.

Despite a rise in temperatures, South Easterly winds maintained the chill in the air. The chill could persist during the next few days with weathermen forecasting a drop in night temperatures by two to three degrees C from tomorrow onwards for the next two days due to snowfall in Jammu and Kashmir and Uttaranchal and rainfall in Punjab and Haryana under the influence of a fresh Western disturbance.

''Rain and snowfall activity is likely at a few places over Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh and Uttaranchal during the next 24 hours. Isolated rain or thundershowers are also likely over Punjab and north Haryana during the next 24 hours. Fall in night temperatures by two-three degrees C is likely over the plains of NorthWest India from tomorrow onwards,''weathermen said.

Weathermen have also forecast development of dense fog conditions in Delhi in the coming two to three days.

For Delhi, the weather office has forecast a mainly clear sky during the next 24 hours with fog in the morning hours. The minimum temperature tomorrow is expected to be eight degrees Celsius.

UNI AR VD KN1512