Delhi heading for another weekend of biting cold

New Delhi, Jan 10 (UNI) Delhi seems to be heading for a third consecutive weekend of biting cold conditions with no let up for city residents today from the severe chill of the past few days, which saw the mercury plummet to the season's lowest of 2.6 degree Celsius on Monday, the second lowest in the last five years.

Though the minimum temperature rose slightly from yesterday's 3.2 Degree C to 3.8 Degree C today, it still remained three degrees below normal.

Also, slight fog was witnessed this morning reducing visibility at 0700 hours on the Delhi skyline. However, the visibility improved to 800m thereafter. A spokesperson of the Airports Authority of India said flight operations were normal in the morning.

The ongoing chill in Delhi, which has led a majority of people stay ensconced in the comfort of their homes or offices and also led to closure of Government schools for three days from today, could stay till the weekend.

For, even though weathermen have forecast an increase in the night temperatures by two to three degrees C over plains of Northwest India ,including Delhi during the next 24 hours, the mercury could again witness a drop towards the end of the week with fresh snowfall predicted over Jammu and Kashmir in the coming days under the influence of a Western disturbance.

So, while the weathermen forecast a rise in minimum temperature to 7 degree C tomorrow, the mercury could drop to as low as 5 Degree C on Saturday and further to 3 Degree C on Sunday.

Weathermen attribute the biting cold conditions to the cold Northerly winds flowing over the region. This, coupled with ground frost experienced at some places over Punjab, Northwest Rajasthan and north Haryana during the past 24 hours, has led to icy cold conditions in Delhi.

Weathermen have forecast a partly cloudy sky in Delhi during the next 24 hours with slight fog or mist in the morning hours.

UNI