Rise in min temperatures across North, fog persists in early hrs

New Delhi, Feb 3 (UNI) Night temperatures rose across most of North India today, but fog and mist prevailed across the region, especially Uttar Pradesh, disrupting road and rail transport.

In the national capital, people woke up to a slightly chilly morning as cold north-westerly winds maintained their influence, keeping the minimum temperature at 9.6 degrees Celsius.

Shallow fog enveloped the skyline but lifted as the day progressed.

The Met department has forecast that temperatures in Delhi will hover around 11 degrees Celsius over the next few days, while the night temperatures over Northwest India are likely to become near normal during the next 48 hours.

Yesterday, the minimum was at 9.5 degrees Celsius, while on Thursday it was 12.7 degrees C.

The weather office has forecast a mainly clear sky in Delhi during the next 24 hours with slight mist in the morning hours.

The maximum yesterday had remained 26.6 degrees C.

In neighbouring Uttar Pradesh, fog -- setting in late at night and prevailing till early morning -- continued to disrupt road and railway traffic, where as the sun also failed to appear.

According to railways sources in Lucknow, the thick fog envelope continued to play havoc with the rail traffic. Several trains including Allahabad-bound Inter City and Ganga Gomti Express, Prayagraj Express, Chauri Chaura Express and Neelanchal Express were running late.

Mercury fell considerably in Varanasi, Kanpur, Allahabad and Lucknow in the last 24 hours, the meteorological office told UNI.

Allahabad at eight degrees Celsius -- two degrees below normal, was the coldest place in UP. The state capital recorded 8.9 degrees.

The weather is likely to remain dry with thick fog blanket during the early and late hours for the next 24 hours.

Mercury rose in parts of Punjab and Haryana, staying one to four degrees Celsius above normal, but dipped in Himachal Pradesh.

Certain areas in the region experienced fog in the morning, reducing visibility to zero at Ambala and Sirsa, up to 200 metres at Amritsar, Adampur, Bhatinda and Hindon and up to 500 metres at Halwara and Palam in Delhi. The fog disappeared as the day advanced.

The day remained warm.

Amritsar, at 5.1 degrees Celsius, continued to be the coldest place in the plains, although the night temperatures slightly rose in Punjab. The minimum stayed one degree above normal at Patiala recording 8.6 degrees while Ludhiana showed 6.0 degrees, one degree below normal.

Night temperatures rose in Chandigarh and its adjoining areas and a bright sunshine greeted the residents during the day. The city recorded the minimum at 10 degrees Celsius which was two degrees above normal.

The minimum temperature also soared in Haryana. Narnaul in Mahendergarh district recorded the minimum at 8.5 degrees, followed by Ambala registering 8.6 degrees, two degrees above normal, and Karnal 7.8 degrees. Hisar recorded 11 degrees which was four degrees above normal.

Mercury, however, dipped in Himachal Pradesh with Sundernagar in Mandi district recording 4.2 degrees and Shimla 5.6 degrees, which was still four degrees above normal. Mercury remained almost static at Bhuntar in Kullu district, recording 3.2 degrees, one degree above normal.

Tribal areas, where the mercury declined further, continued to be under the impact of severe cold wave. The minimum dropped from 1.6 degrees to minus 1.3 degrees at Kalpa in Kinnaur district.

However, overcast conditions have revived hopes of rain and snow in the state, which experienced an unusual dry spell during this winter season.

The maximum temperature at Una town had last week reached a high of 31 degree Celsius, which was almost 10 degrees above normal for this time of the year.

This was the first time in 38 years that Himachal Pradesh had experienced no rain and snow in the state in January, Shimla Meteorological Office Director Manmohan Singh told UNI.

The weather bureau has predicted light to moderate rain or snow in Himachal Pradesh and partly cloudy days in Punjab and Haryana during the next 24 hours.

In Rajasthan, temperatures showed an upward trend due to the western disturbances.

The minimum temperature in the state capital Jaipur increased by four degrees at 14 degrees Celsius while Ganaganagar remained the coldest place at 9 degrees Celsius.

According to weather department, western disturbances pushed up the minimum temperature by a few degrees in many places. Churu recorded a minimum of 10, Udaipur and Pilani 11, Jodhpur and Barmer 12, Bikaneer 13, Jaisalmer 14, and Ajmer and Kota 15 degrees Celsius.

UNI