Delhi continues to shiver as cold wave tightens grip across north India

Low cloud cover, cold winds and a fall in night time temperatures caused the mercury to drop to the season’s lowest reading in Delhi Saturday, with a minimum temperature of 2.4 degrees Celsius and some places even recorded a minimum of below two degrees Celsius. (Express photo: Tashi Tobgyal)

The severe cold wave conditions prevailing in northern parts of the country are expected to continue till December 30, according to the India Meteorological Department (IMD) forecast. (Express photo: Tashi Tobgyal)

This month is also slated to be the second coldest December in 118 years since 1901 in the national capital, an IMD official said. The coldest thus far has been December 1973, which had an average maximum temperature of 17.3 degrees Celsius. (Express photo: Tashi Tobgyal)

The IMD has forecast that dense to very dense fog will be seen in the city Sunday and Monday and cold wave conditions would prevail. The severity of the cold weather is expected to reduce from December 31. (Express photo: Tashi Tobgyal)

While the extreme cold in north India could point to some special causes, scientists say there is nothing unusual in the climatic conditions that influence temperatures in this region at this time of the year. (Express photo: Tashi Tobgyal)

On Friday, the IMD said Delhi experienced a cold spell for 14 consecutive days this month -- the highest in 22 years. (Express photo: Gajendra Yadav)

Four districts of Nagaland — Zunheboto, Kiphire, Tuensang and Phek— witnessed snowfall on Thursday and Friday, leading to a viral circulation of videos on social media, with users claiming that it was an occurrence of nearly four decades. (Express photo: Tora Agarwala)

Cold wave to severe cold wave conditions are very likely at isolated places in Uttar Pradesh on Sunday while dense to very dense fog is also very likely at many places. In pic: dense fog in Lucknow on Saturday night. (Express photo: Vishal Srivastav)