Delhi still shivering, relief likely in 2 days

New Delhi, Jan 17: Cold Northerly winds continued to send Delhiites 'in a shiver' today despite a slight rise in mercury to 5.1 Degree Celsius even as weatherman forecast some relief in the next two days from the cold wave sweeping the capital over the last two weeks.

Even though the minimum temperature today rose, from 4.5 Degree C yesterday, to 5.1 Degree C, it still remained one Degree below normal. Further, the cold Northerly winds maintained the chill in the air.

Visibility levels in Delhi, however, continued to remain normal with just a slight fog witnessed this morning. Weatherman said the minimum visibility this morning was 800 m, considered normal.

Some relief from the ongoing chill is expected in the coming days with the weather office forecasting that night temperatures are likely to increase over plains of northwest India during the next two days.

''The prevailing cold wave conditions over Punjab are likely to abate by tomorrow. The cold wave conditions over East Uttar Pradesh and adjoining Bihar are likely to continue for another 24 hours and abate thereafter,''the Met office said.

Weatherman have forecast a rise in night temperatures by two to three degrees during the next 24 hours.

The relief from chill, however, might be only temporary with drop in night temperatures over plains of northwest India predicted during the weekend due to another phase of snowfall in Jammu and Kashmir and Himachal Pradesh under the influence of a western disturbance.

''With the eastwards movement of the western disturbance, night temperature are likely to fall over plains of Northwest India,''they said adding that fog conditions were also likely over some places.

The weather ofice has forecast a mainly clear sky in Delhi during the next 24 hours with a likelihood of slight fog during the morning hours. They have forecast a rise in minimum temperature to 6 Degree C tomorrow.

UNI