Cold wave grips north India, windy spell likely to continue in Delhi

Heavy rain, thunder and strong winds lashed Delhi and NCR Thursday evening, bringing traffic to a standstill in many parts. The showers also significantly improved Delhi’s air quality. In pic: Commuters stuck in Delhi rains that lashed the city on Thursday. (Express photo: Tashi Tobgyal)

Officials at SAFAR said Friday will see a significant dip in AQI as wind speed will pick up starting Thursday night. (Express photo: Tashi Tobgyal)

Due to overcast conditions, the night temperature in most parts of Jammu and Kashmir marked an increase and settled above season's average but the day temperature fell several degrees below normal during this part of the season. In pic: Snow covered HMT colony in Srinagar on Friday morning. (Express photo: Shuaib Masoodi)

Meanwhile, Saturday is also expected to bring the first dense fog day. In pic: Homeless people warm themselves around a bonfire on a cold evening in New Delhi on Thursday. (Express photo: Tashi Tobgyal)

The temperature in Delhi is likely to drop from December 14-15 and reach single digit. (Express photo: Tashi Tobgyal)

Chandigarh Thursday recorded the coldest day of this winter season as the day temperature slipped 4 degrees Celsius below normal after a light drizzle in the city. In pic: Visitors enjoy weather at Sukhna Lake in Chandigarh on Thursday. (Express photo: Kamleshwar Singh)

In Uttar Pradesh, weather was dry with shallow to moderate fog at isolated places while Basti at 8 degrees Celsius was the coldest place in the state. In pic: Lucknow under first dense fog and cold wave on Thursday. (Express photo: Vishal Srivastav)

In Himachal Pradesh also, cold wave intensified after rain, snowfall in many parts of the state, resulting in decrease in the maximum temperature by 7-8 degrees Celsius. In pic: Beautiful view of Kufri after fresh snowfall on Thursday. (Express photo: Pradeep Das)

The maximum temperature in Kufri of Shimla district was recorded below freezing point. In pic: View of Historical Ridge after snowfall in Shimla on Thursday. (Express photo: Pradeep Das)

The high reaches of the state in Lahaul-Spiti, Kinnaur, Kullu and Shimla districts received snowfall whereas several other areas of the state witnessed rain on Thursday. In pic: Kufri after fresh Snowfall on Thursday. (Express photo: Pradeep Das)