Slight let-up in cold in Delhi; Minimum rises to 5.2 d C

New Delhi, Jan 11 (UNI) Delhi experienced a let-up in the severe cold today as the minimum temperature rose to 5.2 degrees Celsius, from yesterday's 3.8 Degrees C.

However, the minimum was still two degrees below normal with the weatherman forecasting that the mercury will settle around 4 degrees Celsius over the next 24 hours.

Delhi seems to be heading for a third consecutive weekend of biting cold conditions. On Monday, the mercury plummeted to the season's lowest of 2.6 degrees Celsius, the second lowest in the last five years.

Also, fog enveloped the city this morning reducing visibility forcing the Delhi Airport authorities to enforced Low Visibility Procedures (LVP) at 0615 hrs till 0953 hrs An Airports Authority of India spokesperson said flight operations were by and large normal in the morning barring a few delays.

Even though the weatherman has forecast an increase in the night temperatures by two to three degrees C over plains of Northwest India 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 Western disturbances.

The Weatherman has attributed the prevailing weather 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.

The Weatherman has forecast a partly cloudy sky in Delhi during the next 24 hours with slight fog or mist in the morning hours.

UNI