Dense flog blanketed most parts of North India today, affecting normal life and throwing rail traffic in the region out of gear with more than 40 trains cancelled and several others getting delayed.
Delhi shivered in biting cold with the minimum slipping to 6.9 degrees Celsius, a notch below the season's average. The maximum was recorded at 17.3 degrees Celsius, four notches below the normal.
The day started with overcast conditions which later gave way to a bright sun. Moderate to dense fog during the early morning hours disrupted rail services leading to cancellation of 40 trains and delayed 18 others. However, flight operations remained normal.
Visibility fell from 1,000 metres at 5.30 AM to 700 metres at 8.30 AM. It then improved to 1,500 meters at 11.30 AM.
Cold wave continued in Jammu and Kashmir owing to dry weather while the Valley witnessed unusual bright sunshine. The mercury in Kargil in Ladakh region plunged to the season's lowest at minus 16.4 degrees Celsius.
More than 12 flights were delayed and several trains to Jammu running late due to fog.
"Around 12 flights to Jammu were delayed by an hour because of poor visibility due to dense fog. Normal flight operations resumed later in the day as fog dissipated," an official at the Jammu airport said.
Srinagar registered a low of minus 4.3 degrees Celsius. The city also witnessed unusual bright sunshine for the third consecutive day today owing to clear skies, local MeT office said.
Kargil experienced the season's coldest night as the mercury there went down by over a degree to settle at a low of minus 16.4 degrees Celsius against minus 15 degrees Celsius the previous night.
The nearby Leh town also shivered at minus 16 degrees Celsius.
Kashmir is in the midst of the 40-day-long harshest phase of winter, which began on December 21 and will continue till the end of this month.
Cold wave swept Rajasthan with Mount Abu recording a low of - 3 deg C affecting normal life and lowering tourist arrival at the hill station even as Jaipur district authorities directed all private, government and CBSE- affiliated schools to alter their timings from tomorrow to January 30.
All schools from classes I to V will start at 9:30 AM or afterwards, and classes VI to XII will begin at 8 30 AM or afterwards in Jaipur district, District collector Krishna Kunal said.
Leh town of Ladakh region was the coldest recorded place
in the state as the mercury there settled at a low of minus 13.9 degrees Celsius, up from previous night's minus 16.8 degrees Celsius.
Kashmir is currently under the grip of 'Chillai-Kalan' considered the harshest period of winter, when the chances of snowfall are maximum and the temperature drops considerably.
'Chillai-Kalan', which, began on December 21, ends on January 31, but the cold wave continues even after that.
Cold wave conditions continue to sweep most parts of Himachal Pradesh, with MeT department issuing a warning of heavy snowfall or rains next week.
High altitude tribal areas and mountain passes had another spell of mild snowfall as strong velocity icy winds lashed the region, causing fall in day temperatures in adjoining valley areas.
Another Western Disturbance lies over north Pakistan and adjoining Afghanistan as an upper air cyclonic circulation which could affect the Himalayan region.
The high altitude tribal areas groaned under piercing cold wave conditions with mercury staying between minus 15 and minus 20 degree Celsius while Keylong in tribal Lahaul and Spiti district recorded a low of minus 12.1 degree Celsius.
In Rajasthan, the temperatures rose by 2 to 3 degrees Celsius at several places even as the weather was dry in the desert state.
Shallow to moderate fog occurred at isolated places in Udaipur division.
Following Churu, which was coldest in the plains at 4.4 degrees Celsius, Sriganganagar recorded a low of 4.8 degrees Celsius. Pilani's low was 5.7 degrees Celsius, followed by Dabok at 8.8 degrees Celsius while Jaipur recorded a low of 9.3 degrees Celsius.
People in Bihar, including Patna, experienced a sunny day while the MeT department forecast a partly cloudy sky tomorrow in major cities of Patna, Gaya, Bhagalpur and Purnea.
During the day, the state capital registered a minimum temperature of 9.3 degrees Celsius against yesterday's 10.7 degrees Celsius.
The maximum temperature of Patna was recorded at 24.6 degrees Celsius against yesterday's 25.9 degree Celsius.
Gaya recorded the minimum temperature of 7.9 degrees Celsius while it registered a highest maximum temperature at 24.9 degrees Celsius.
The state's lowest minimum temperature was also recorded at 7 degrees Celsius at Sabour in Bhagalpur district.
Purnea registered the lowest minimum temperature of 8.3 degrees Celsius in the state while its maximum temperature was recorded at 25 degrees Celsius.
The weatherman has predicted heavy rain or snow at a few places likely over Jammu and Kashmir and Himachal Pradesh and heavy rain at isolated places likely over adjoining plains.
Rainfall at isolated places very likely over Gujarat, south Peninsular India. Dry weather likely over the rest of the country.
