New Delhi: The cold wave has once again gripped North India as people wake up to foggy mornings. Mercury in various places is close to touching 0 degrees Celsius and at some places, it has dropped to subzero. India Meteorological Department (IMD) shared details on the temperature recorded in various cities on Monday. Haryana's Hisar recorded a minimum temperature of 0.8 degrees Celsius today, as per the IMD.
Safdarjung in Delhi recorded 1.4 degrees Celsius, Amritsar in Punjab recorded 1.5 degrees Celsius, Alwar in Rajasthan recorded 0 degrees Celsius, Pilani recorded 1.9 degrees Celsius. Notably, Sikar recorded -2 degrees Celsius and Churu recorded -2.5 degrees Celsius.
The IMD had earlier issued an orange warning for a cold wave in Delhi till January 17-18. Delhi saw an intense cold wave spell from January 5 to January 9, the second longest in the month in a decade, according to IMD data.
The national capital has also recorded over 50 hours of dense fog this month so far, which is the highest since 2019, as reported by news agency PTI. In the plains, a cold wave is declared if the minimum temperature dips to 4 degrees Celsius or when it is 10 degrees Celsius and 4.5 notches below normal.
A severe cold wave is when the minimum temperature dips to two degrees Celsius or the departure from the normal limits is by more than 6.4 notches. Cold wave to severe cold waves are likely to hold their sway over parts of North India, including the national capital, until Wednesday, the weather department said.
According to IMD, the mercury will continue to settle at 3 degrees Celcius, today and tomorrow in Delhi-NCR. On January 18, the temperature will record 4 degrees Celcius, failing to give even marginal respite to Delhiites from the cold wave conditions, the Met office said.
The Indian Railways informed on Monday that as many as 13 trains are running late in the Northern Railway region due to fog. The Indian Railways informed on Monday that as many as 13 trains are running late in the Northern Railway region due to fog. Meanwhile, over North India, cold wave to severe cold wave conditions are very likely over many parts of Rajasthan, Punjab, Haryana, Chandigarh, and Delhi till January 17 and after that in isolated pockets on January 18.
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In view of the severe cold, the district administration in Uttar Pradesh's Gorakhpur decided to shut schools till January 17. The district administration in Meerut ordered passed the same order but till class 8. And the Union Territory of Chandigarh has also extended the winter break for students up to eighth standard, keeping in view the region's stern cold and fog spell.
Notably, IMD has predicted dense fog and low visibility over the country's northwestern part for the next five days. On Saturday, the weather department predicted dense to very dense fog over Punjab, Haryana, Chandigarh, Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, and Bihar during the next five days.
(With agency inputs)