New Delhi: Delhi has been gripped by a cold wave for the third consecutive day, with temperatures plummeting to a minimum of 7.4 degrees Celsius and peaking at just 15 degrees Celsius, as reported by the India Meteorological Department (IMD). This maximum temperature is notably four degrees below the seasonal average, while the minimum remains within the expected range.Temperature Records in DelhiAt Safdarjung, a key weather station in Delhi, the maximum temperature was recorded at 15 degrees Celsius, which is 4.3 degrees below normal. Meanwhile, Palam weather station reported an even lower maximum of 12.8 degrees Celsius, falling two degrees below the average for this time of year. The chilly conditions are expected to persist as Delhi braces for more cold weather.Forecast for ThursdayLooking ahead, the regional meteorological office has issued a forecast for Thursday, predicting widespread smog and moderate fog across most areas, with dense fog expected in isolated regions during the morning hours. The sky is anticipated to be partly cloudy throughout the day, with shallow fog likely in the evening and night. Surface winds are expected to blow at speeds between 10-15 km/h.Cold Snap in Rajasthan and Uttar PradeshThe cold wave has also severely impacted neighboring states, particularly Rajasthan, where daily life has been disrupted due to plummeting temperatures. Jaipur recorded a chilling 7.2 degrees Celsius early in the morning, while Bikaner and Churu reported even lower temperatures of 7 and 6 degrees Celsius respectively. In Uttar Pradesh, fog enveloped Ayodhya as temperatures dropped further Meerut recorded 9 degrees Celsius and Lucknow logged a slightly warmer 10 degrees Celsius.Snowfall Predictions for Himachal PradeshIn Himachal Pradesh, fresh snowfall is on the horizon starting January 2. The IMD has indicated that mid and high hill regions may experience significant snowfall and rainfall from January 4 to 7, with heavy precipitation expected on January 5 and 6. Notably, Sundernagar recorded the highest temperature in the state at 21.4°C, while Tabo village was the coldest at -16.7°C.Kashmir&#39s Cold ConditionsKashmir is bracing for fresh snowfall as cold conditions intensify due to two consecutive western disturbances. A weak disturbance is expected to bring light snowfall from Wednesday evening into Thursday morning, followed by a more robust disturbance from January 3 to 6 that could result in moderate snowfall across most areas. As night temperatures drop further across Kashmir, Gulmarg remains the coldest spot in the valley with a low of -8.8°C.
