City gets a brief break from cold snap
The sun shone since the morning, with maximum temperature going up a little
LUCKNOW: : Residents of the state capital heaved a sigh of relief on Saturday, as there was bright sunshine since 9.30 am. This was in sharp contrast to Friday’s bleak weather, with an overcast sky and icy wind blowing across the city.
While the minimum temperature in Lucknow on Saturday was 4 degrees Celsius, the maximum temperature went up a little to 18.7 degrees Celsius, three notches below normal. On Friday, day temperature had plunged to 11.7, 9 degrees below normal and night temperature was 3 degrees Celsius.
With night temperature hovering between 3 to 4 degrees Celsius, the homeless are the worst hit as there are hardly any bonfires around. The district administration has not made enough arrangements for night shelter (raen basera) either.
However, one can expect sunny day on Sunday. The day will begin with dense to moderate fog but gradually sun will come out. The local forecast for Lucknow and neighbouring areas is mainly clear sky. The maximum and minimum temperature would be around 18 and 4 degrees Celsius respectively.
The met department has issued warning of dense to very dense fog at a few places from mid night to morning all over the state. Cold to severely cold day conditions are very likely at isolated places over the state. Ground frost condition was very likely at isolated places over the state, said met director JP Gupta.
Fursatganj was coldest in the state with 2.6 degrees Celsius, Bahraich shivered at 2.9 degrees , Sultanpur at 3 degrees, Jhansi at 3.4 degrees, Basti at 3.5 degrees, Kanpur at 3.6 degrees, Najibabad at 3.8 degrees, Hardoi and Moradabad at 4 degrees, Kheri at 4.2 degrees, Agra at 4.3 degrees, Meerut at 4.7 degrees and Barabanki at 5 degrees.
Due to fog, several trains were running late while some were cancelled causing inconvenience to rail passengers. Sadbhavna Express, Sealdah Express, Jhansi Intercity and Farakka Express remained cancelled.
Due to intense cold and foggy conditions, the district administration has announced closure of all schools up to Class 12 till January 7.