Winter Chill Numbs North India As Intense Cold Wave Maintains Firm Grip, No Respite In Sight Till Sunday

Cold wave conditions and fog continued its grip over north India on Saturday.

The winter chill continued to numb northern part of the country including the national capital with a dense layer of fog and ‘severe’ cold. Delhi continued to experience cold wave and fog while minimum temperature dropped to 8 degrees Celsius in Rajasthan's Jaipur. The India Meteorological Department has issued a severe to very severe cold day alert, with temperature settling below 10 degree Celsius, for Haryana, Chandigarh, Delhi, East Rajasthan, and Punjab. 

Along with severe cold days, the weather department has also issued an alert for dense to very dense fog. Rajasthan, Punjab, Haryana, Chandigarh, Delhi, and West Uttar Pradesh are likely to remain covered under dense to very dense fog. 

Dense fog alert is issued when the visibility remains between 50 and 200 metres and when it drops below 50 metres, an alert for very dense fog is issued.

Several places in north India including Delhi are experiencing cold wave conditions coupled with dense fog since the start of this month. On Friday, Delhi recorded a minimum temperature of 9.4 degrees Celsius, as per the weather department. 

Rail and flight operations have taken a hit due to the fog with many trains and flights to and from Delhi getting delayed. 

Elsewhere, the conditions remained the same in other adjoining states with temperatures ranging from 10-18 degrees Celsius due to persistent low cloud cover and the absence of sunlight over the region.

A cold day is when the minimum temperature is less than or equal to 10 degrees Celsius below normal and the maximum temperature is at least 4.5 degrees Celsius below normal. A severe cold day is when the maximum is 6.5 degrees Celsius or more below normal.

Residents in North India will have to endure the similar cold wave conditions till Sunday as weather department on Friday said that the cold day to severe cold day conditions will continue over some parts of Punjab, Haryana, Chandigarh, Delhi and Rajasthan during next 2 days and significant decrease thereafter.