Lucknow Experiences Warmest Winter Night with Temperature Soaring to 15.4°C
An overcast sky that brought light drizzle to Lucknow in the early hours of Saturday led to a significant increase in nighttime temperatures, making it the warmest night of the current winter season. The meteorological department has forecast that this weather upheaval will continue, with more thundershowers expected on Tuesday and Wednesday.
Why Nights with Cloud Cover Are Warmer
Nights with an overcast sky tend to be warmer because clouds act as a barrier, trapping terrestrial radiation. This prevents the heat absorbed by the earth during the day from escaping into space, resulting in higher minimum temperatures.
Record-Breaking Temperature in Lucknow
On Saturday, the minimum temperature in Lucknow soared to 15.4 degrees Celsius. This was not only 7.9 units above the normal level but also the highest recorded in the state. According to the met office, this marks the fourth highest minimum temperature, or the fourth warmest winter night, in Lucknow since records began in 1951 at the Amausi station.
Historical Context of Warm Winter Nights
Previously, the highest minimum temperature in Lucknow was 21.8 degrees Celsius, recorded on January 4, 2005. This was followed by 16.2 degrees Celsius on January 22, 2019, and 15.5 degrees Celsius on January 31, 2005. Interestingly, the temperature on Saturday matched the 15.4 degrees Celsius recorded on January 30, 2007.
Rainfall and Weather Impact
In Lucknow, the Met department control rooms recorded varying amounts of rainfall: 1.3 mm in Aliganj, 2.9 mm in Mohanlalganj, and 2.5 mm in another part of Mohanlalganj. However, the drizzle did not significantly impact weather conditions, as the cloud cover decreased during the day, leading to a partly cloudy sky. The maximum temperature reached 25.1 degrees Celsius, which was 3.1 notches above normal.
Causes and Future Predictions
Mohammad Danish, a senior scientist at the state meteorological department, explained that the rainfall resulted from a western disturbance over Pakistan and moisture incursion from the Arabian Sea into the state's atmosphere. He noted that the western disturbance has now fizzled out.
As a result, the minimum temperature on Sunday is expected to drop to 11 degrees Celsius, with a maximum of 25 degrees Celsius. Danish predicted that mercury levels will drop further by a couple of degrees on Monday, with the possibility of shallow fog in the morning hours.
However, he warned that fresh western disturbances are approaching, which may cause another round of thunder showers in Lucknow on Tuesday and Wednesday.
Statewide Weather Conditions
Light to moderate rainfall was reported from most parts of the state on Saturday. Sambhal recorded the highest rainfall in the state at 95 mm, followed by Meerut with 38 mm and Muzaffarnagar with 32 mm. Minimum temperatures rose at many places by 5-7 degrees, touching the 15 degrees Celsius mark.
