Parts of Delhi receive light spells of rain, minimum temperature rises to 7 deg C

Parts of the national capital received light rain on Saturday morning adding to the biting cold prevailing over North India. According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), the impact of Western Disturbance has begun over Northwest India including Delhi.

Palam has reported 0.4 mm rainfall. Ridge, Ayanagar and Lodi Road in Delhi have reported trace rainfall.

IMD had earlier predicted showers over parts of Haryana, Uttar Pradesh and isolated places across Delhi. "Thunderstorm with rain would occur over and adjoining areas of Rewari, Bhiwadi, Manesar, Gurugram, Farukhnagar, Sonipat, Gannaur, Deeg, Mathura, Hathras, Bharatpur, Hansi, Tosham, Jind, Safodon, Panipat, Karnal, Shamli, Kaithal, Narwana, Narnaul and isolated places of South, South - West Delhi during next 2 hours." the IMD tweeted at around 8 am.

The minimum temperature is predicted to rise to 8 degrees Celsius by January 4 to 5.

Light rain is also expected in the national capital under the influence of the western disturbance from January 3 to January 5.

"Light/moderate fairly widespread rainfall/snowfall over the western Himalayan region is likely during January 4-6. With its peak intensity on January 4 and 5, there is a possibility of heavy rain/snow over Jammu and Kashmir. Hailstorm at isolated places is also likely over western Himalayan Region during this time," the IMD said.

Poor visibility was observed at the Gazipur border which received light showers. The IMD further observed that dense to very dense fog was seen in isolated pockets across Punjab, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh from 5:30 pm last night to 5:30 am Saturday morning.

"Visibility recorded (200 metre or less): Amritsar, Bareilly, Patiala and Ambala - 25 each, Gaya and Karnal - 50 each, Ganganagar, Hissar, Aligarh and Gwalior - 200 each," it added.

Meanwhile, a severe cold wave swept Delhi on New Year's Day as the mercury plummeted to 1.1 degrees Celsius, the lowest in 15 years, and "very dense" fog lowered visibility to "zero" metres, smudging landmarks from view and affecting traffic movement.

According to the IMD, "very dense" fog is when visibility is between 0 and 50 metres. In case of "dense" fog, visibility is between 51 and 200 metres, "moderate" 201 and 500 metres, and "shallow" 501 and 1,000 metres.

During December 31-January 1 night, clear skies with local radiation cooling led to a fall in the minimum temperature by 1 to 2 degrees Celsius, leading to the lowest temperature of the season at 1.1 degrees Celsius, the IMD said in a statement.

The month of November was the coldest in the national capital in 71 years, with the mean minimum temperature dropping to 10.2 degrees Celsius, according to IMD data.

(With agency inputs)