Amid the freezing cold, the Lucknow district administration has ordered the closure of schools for students up to Class 8 until January 8. For Classes 9 to 12, the order said, school timings will be from 10 am.
Uttar Pradesh has been experiencing a sharp drop in temperatures, with cities like Kanpur, Etawah, Barabanki, Shahjahanpur, and Hardoi recording minimum temperatures below 5°C.
Experts attributed this to an active Western Disturbance affecting Western India and the influence of cold, dry north-westerly winds from snow-covered mountainous regions.
Experts from the Lucknow Meteorological Centre of the India Meteorological Department informed that because of the influence of cold and dry north westerly winds, parts of Uttar Pradesh witnessed a drop of 3-6°C in minimum temperatures.
“The temperature in the central parts of the state has fallen to as low as between 3-6°C, and a further slight drop is expected in other parts of the state over the next 24-48 hours. After this, the decline is expected to cease, and a gradual increase in temperatures is likely…,” informed experts.
They added, “During this period, strong cold winds of 15-20 km/hr, fog, and cloudy skies resulted in cold day conditions in some areas. In addition, for the next few days, temperatures are likely to remain below normal due to dense to very dense fog and strong winds.”
In addition to other factors, the sudden drop in temperature was most pronounced in the central part of the state “due to increased radiative cooling caused by the dissipation of a lifted layer of fog on Saturday evening,” said experts.
Meanwhile, on Sunday evening, districts like Agra, Kanpur, Ayodhya, Lucknow and Bahraich witnessed very dense to dense fog leading to zero to less than 50 metres visibility.
The average minimum temperature reported in the state on Sunday was around 6°C, a departure of 1.8°C from normal.
Some of the most cold cities in the state were:
-Kanpur, which witnessed a minimum temperature of 3.2°C on Sunday evening, which was 4.2°C below normal.
-Etawah witnessed 3.8°C, which was 2.7°C below normal.
-Barabanki saw a minimum temperature of 4.5°C, which was 3.7°C below normal,
-Shahjahanpur was at 4.6°C, which was 2.6°C below normal.
-Hardoi at 5°C which was 4°C below normal.
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“In the coming few days, because of very dense fog in certain areas of the state, coupled with strong cold winds, the temperature is likely to remain low,” informed experts.
Maulshree Seth is an Assistant Editor with The Indian Express, based in Lucknow. With over 15 years of experience in mainstream journalism, she has built a formidable reputation for her on-ground reporting across Uttar Pradesh. Her expertise spans a wide array of critical beats, including state politics, governance, the judiciary, and rural development.
Authoritativeness Maulshree’s work is characterized by depth and historical context. Her coverage of high-stakes state elections and landmark judicial rulings has established her as an authoritative voice on the intersection of law and politics in Northern India. She is frequently recognized for her ability to gain access to primary sources and for her nuanced understanding of the socio-economic factors that drive the world's most populous sub-national entity.
Trustworthiness & Ethical Journalism Her reporting is rooted in rigorous fact-checking and a steadfast dedication to neutral, unbiased storytelling. By prioritizing field-based verification—often traveling to the most remote corners of the state—she ensures that her readers receive a truthful and comprehensive view of events. ... Read More
