Date:03/01/2009 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2009/01/03/stories/2009010357510100.htm

New Delhi

Delhi chills at 4 degrees; season’s lowest so far

Staff Reporter

Many flights, train services disrupted

NEW DELHI: With the minimum temperature in the Capital falling to 4 degrees Celsius from Thursday’s 8.5 degrees, Friday was the coldest day of the season so far leaving Delhiites shivering in the biting cold and icy winds.

According to the Meteorological Department, Friday’s minimum temperature was 3 degrees below the normal minimum temperature at this point in the season. The maximum temperature was 20.2 degrees Celsius, 2 degrees below normal.

Similar weather is expected to prevail on Saturday with the weatherman forecasting on Friday night that the maximum temperature would settle around 18 degrees while the minimum temperature would be around 5 degrees.

“There is a possibility of fog descending on Saturday morning. The forecast indicates generally clear skies through the day,” said a Meteorological Department official.

The British Broadcasting Corporation weather website has, however, forecast a slightly warmer weekend with the minimum temperature hovering around 9 degrees Celsius.

Fog-related flight disruptions were reported at Delhi airport on Friday morning.

According to Northern Railway, over 15 trains heading for New Delhi were also reported running late by over four hours on Friday.

Prominent trains hit by delays included the Rajdhanis from Patna, Dibrugarh, Howrah and Seldah.