Lucknow: City recorded the ‘coldest day’ of the season on Friday, with maximum temperature dropping to 12.9 degrees Celsius (8.1 units below normal) and gave people the feel of night chill during the day.
Met department officials said that most UP districts recorded maximum temperatures below 17 degrees Celsius and minimum temperatures below 10 degrees Celsius. Districts with the lowest maximum temperatures included Jhansi (10 degrees Celsius), Bareilly (10.2 degrees), Bijnor (10.8 degrees), Shahjahanpur and Meerut (11 degrees each), and Muzaffarnagar (11.5 degrees).
In terms of minimum temperature, districts that recorded low mercury levels included Ayodhya (5 degrees Celsius), Rae Bareli (5.4 degrees) and Farrukhabad (5.5 degrees). “The revival of northwesterly winds from mountain ranges led to drop in temperature, which in turn condensed moisture in the atmosphere into fog. As a result, the density of fog increased manifold,” said Mohammad Danish, senior scientist at the state met department.“Thick layer of fog later got lifted and remained suspended in the atmosphere, giving the impression of an overcast sky, preventing penetration of sun rays. Thus, a cycle of cold conditions was created that lasted throughout the day,” he explained.
Similar conditions will prevail on Saturday and Sunday. Moderate to dense fog is expected across UP. This will lead to cold day conditions, which means day-time temperatures will be 5 degrees Celsius or more below normal. Minimum temperature will also remain low.
“Velocity of cold winds is expected to increase after 2-3 days, which would ease the fog situation, but increase the wind chill or the chill factor in atmosphere,” he added.
According to Met department, apart from northwesterly winds, jet stream winds are prevailing over northern plains leading to subsidence of cold air, which in turn is enhancing cold wave/cold day conditions. Similar intensity of jet stream is likely to continue for 3-4 days.
Met department officials said that most UP districts recorded maximum temperatures below 17 degrees Celsius and minimum temperatures below 10 degrees Celsius. Districts with the lowest maximum temperatures included Jhansi (10 degrees Celsius), Bareilly (10.2 degrees), Bijnor (10.8 degrees), Shahjahanpur and Meerut (11 degrees each), and Muzaffarnagar (11.5 degrees).
In terms of minimum temperature, districts that recorded low mercury levels included Ayodhya (5 degrees Celsius), Rae Bareli (5.4 degrees) and Farrukhabad (5.5 degrees). “The revival of northwesterly winds from mountain ranges led to drop in temperature, which in turn condensed moisture in the atmosphere into fog. As a result, the density of fog increased manifold,” said Mohammad Danish, senior scientist at the state met department.“Thick layer of fog later got lifted and remained suspended in the atmosphere, giving the impression of an overcast sky, preventing penetration of sun rays. Thus, a cycle of cold conditions was created that lasted throughout the day,” he explained.
Similar conditions will prevail on Saturday and Sunday. Moderate to dense fog is expected across UP. This will lead to cold day conditions, which means day-time temperatures will be 5 degrees Celsius or more below normal. Minimum temperature will also remain low.
“Velocity of cold winds is expected to increase after 2-3 days, which would ease the fog situation, but increase the wind chill or the chill factor in atmosphere,” he added.
According to Met department, apart from northwesterly winds, jet stream winds are prevailing over northern plains leading to subsidence of cold air, which in turn is enhancing cold wave/cold day conditions. Similar intensity of jet stream is likely to continue for 3-4 days.