Cold wave tightens grip in Lucknow

Cold wave tightened its grip as rains continued to lash Lucknow on Monday morning. The minimum temperature in the region was set to dip further, the meteorological office said.

Residents here woke up to a steady spell of rain, leaving many schoolchildren and office-goers in the lurch. Icy winds blowing at a speed of 15 km per hour from adjoining Uttarakhand added to the winter bite.

Many parts of Uttar Pradesh would witness cloudy weather or rain, especially eastern Uttar Pradesh, the Met office said. The state capital has had rains for the last 24 hours.

A drop in day and night temperatures would continue in the coming week.

The minimum temperature here on Sunday was 19 degrees Celsius, eight degrees below normal.

"Icy winds blowing due to snowfall in Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand will add to the chill. Uttar Pradesh will face the winter at its fullest within a week," the Met office said.

Fog also appeared in some parts of Uttar Pradesh and was set to thicken by the month-end, the office said.