Residents of Lucknow braced themselves as a harsh cold day returned to the city on Tuesday, following a brief sunny interlude on Monday. The capital of Uttar Pradesh was enveloped in dense morning fog, with a persistent cloud cover lasting throughout the day, making the chill feel more intense.
Visibility Drops, Traffic Crawls
The fog significantly hampered visibility, which plummeted to around 30 metres in several areas during the morning hours. This led to a considerable slowdown in traffic speed across the city, causing inconvenience to commuters. While partial sunshine broke through in the afternoon, it offered only marginal relief as icy north-westerly winds added to the biting cold.
Sharp Dip in Temperatures
The meteorological data confirmed the severity of the cold wave. The maximum temperature recorded was a mere 14.8 degrees Celsius, which is approximately 5.6 degrees below the normal average for this time of year. The minimum temperature settled at 7 degrees Celsius, marking a drop of 0.6 degrees below average. Relative humidity levels fluctuated between 52% and 87%.
Weather scientists attributed this sharp decline in minimum temperatures over the past 48 hours to cold and dry north-westerly winds sweeping into the region from the snow-clad Himalayas. This followed the passage of a western disturbance. Consequently, nights and early mornings remained intensely cold across Uttar Pradesh, with rural and open areas experiencing the worst of it.
Weather Outlook and Widespread Disruption
Mohammad Danish, a senior scientist at the weather office, provided an outlook for the coming days. He stated that while minimum temperatures are likely to stay below normal for the next few days, residents can expect a gradual reduction in the density, area, and duration of fog. He added that after the next two days, the fog is likely to thin out further, and temperatures might see a slight increase, bringing some much-needed relief.
The impact of the dense fog over recent days has been widespread, affecting:
- Road traffic across the state.
- Rail services, leading to delays and cancellations.
- Air travel, disrupting flight schedules at airports.
The weather office continues to monitor the situation and advises citizens to exercise caution while travelling during early morning and late evening hours.
