Warm day in North

A comparatively warm day came as
breather for people today in most parts of North India, which had been reeling under intense cold wave for the last two weeks.
The national capital recorded its highest minimum for this time of the season in at least five years as the mercury touched 12.2 degrees on what was a relatively mild late December day in the national capital.
The minimum today had risen five notches above the normal while the maximum, at 24.5 degrees, was up four notches from the average.
"Both the minimum and maximum temperatures recorded are highest at least in the last five years," said a senior MeT department official.

A Western Disturbance which was active over the region brought temporary respite to the people of Haryana and Punjab from the biting cold wave conditions today as the minimum temperatures rose slightly.

A MeT Department official said that the Western Disturbance was active over North Pakistan and adjoining Jammu and Kashmir and the minimum temperatures had risen in the plains because of the weather system.
Chandigarh today recorded a minimum temperature of 8.6 degrees Celsius, up three notches than normal.
In Haryana, Ambala registered a low of 8.3 deg C, up two notches from normal while Hisar's low settled at 7.3 deg C, up by one notch.

Amritsar in Punjab recorded a low of 3.6 deg C, which was one notch above normal.
Mercury also rose in Rajasthan.
Due to the ongoing effects of western disturbance, temperature has further risen every where in Rajasthan by one to five degrees Celsius.
Sikar was the coldest recording a low of 5 deg C last night while fog continued to hit train services in the state.
Seven trains of North Western Railway were running late due to the fog, railway spokesman said.
However, after a day's respite, the residents of Kashmir and Ladakh regions in Jammu and Kashmir again witnessed a drop in the night temperature with Leh being the coldest place at minus 12 deg C.

Notwithstanding the freezing night temperatures, tourists in "good numbers" have started flocking the Valley to celebrate the New Year as authorities have decked up the famous hill resorts to welcome the revellers.
The winter sun, which appeared in the morning after remaining behind the clouds for the last couple of days, provided much needed relief to the people from the bone chilling cold.
The minimum temperature recorded in Srinagar was minus 2.7 deg C against yesterday's minus of 0.9 deg C. It was minus 3.2 deg C a day earlier, a Met office spokesman said.
(REOPENS DEL 56)
Weather stations recorded a dip in the night temperatures at other places as well. The minimum temperature in north Kashmir town of Kupwara was minus 1.5 degrees Celsius, while the southern Kokernag resort recorded a low of minus 2.4 degrees Celsius against yesterday's minus 1.8 degrees Celsius.

Meanwhile, tourism officials said a good number of tourists have started arriving in the Valley to celebrate the New Year.
"Over the past couple of days, we have received a good number of tourists and are hopeful that the trend will pick up in the coming days," a tourism official said.
He said his department has planned several events especially in Gulmarg to make the visit of the tourists a memorable one.