Delhi's temperature dips to 4 degrees, colder than Shimla, Nainital

New Delhi, Dec 21: Delhites shivered in cold as the minimum temperature in the national capital dipped to 4 degrees celsius, lowest for December since 2014. The fall in temperature is because of cold wave conditions prevailing over northwest India.

On Wednesday, the minimum temperature settled at 5.2 degree Celsius, while the maximum temperature was recorded at 22.3 degree Celsius. Cold wave conditions prevailed in north Indian states on Thursday and most parts of Punjab and Haryana recording temperatures lower than hill station Shimla in Himachal Pradesh.

The previous coldest day in the city in recent times was on December 28, 2014, when it had dipped to 2.6°C.

Cold wave sweeping other parts of Northern India (In Pics):

North India reels under cold

The night temperature dipped drastically in Leh district of Ladakh region as the mercury plunged nearly nine degrees Wednesday, the Met Department said.

The mercury fell from minus 6 degrees Celsius on the previous night to minus 14.7 degrees Celsius, a Met official said.

Manali-Leh road during winter

In Srinagar -- the summer capital of Jammu and Kashmir -- the night temperature stood at minus 4.9 degrees Celsius on Wednesday, he said.

The normal for this time of season in the city is minus 1.5 degrees Celsius.

The official said Qazigund -- the gateway town to the valley in south Kashmir -- recorded a low of minus 4.2 degrees Celsius, while nearby Kokernag town registered a low of minus 3.8 degrees Celsius and Kupwara in north Kashmir recorded a low of minus 5.5 degrees Celsius Wednesday night, he said.

Cold wave hits Delhi

The night temperature in Pahalgam, which serves as one of the base camps for the annual Amarnath Yatra in south Kashmir, settled at a low of minus 6.8 degrees Celsius Wednesday.

The ski-resort of Gulmarg in north Kashmir recorded a minimum temperature of minus 5.4 degrees Celsius last night, the official said.

The normal for this time of the winter in the twin resorts is minus 4.4 degrees Celsius and minus 4.8 degrees Celsius, respectively.

Cold conditions are expected to intensify as the valley braces for the harshest 40-day winter period called 'Chillai Kalaan', which will begin on Friday.

In neighbouring Punjab and Haryana, the minimum temperatures hovered below normal limits at most places, the weatherman said.

Dense fog led to reduced visibility at many places, including Patiala, Ludhiana, Pathankot, Adampur, Hisar and Ambala.

Dense fog in several place sof North India

Adampur in Punjab was the coldest place in the two states, recording a minimum temperature of 1.5 degrees Celsius, he said.

The night temperature in Ludhiana was recorded at 2.3 degrees Celsius, Bathinda reeled at 2.9 degrees Celsius, Amritsar at 3.6 degrees Celsius, Halwara at 4.4 degrees Celsius, Patiala at 5.6 degrees Celsius and Pathankot at 5.5 degrees Celsius, the weatherman added.

In Haryana, Hisar was the coldest place, recording a low of 2.1 degrees Celsius, while Narnaul settled at 2.5 degrees Celsius, Ambala at 3.7 degrees Celsius, Rohtak at 3.2 degrees Celsius, Sirsa at 4.6 degrees Celsius and Karnal at 4 degrees Celsius, all below normal for this time of the year.

Oneindia News with PTI inputs