Cold wave conditions continue to prevail in the National Capital as Delhiites experienced the coldest day of the season on Saturday with minimum temperature being recorded at 2.2 Degrees Celsius, five degrees below normal.

According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), the Safdarjung Observatory, the primary weather station here, had recorded the minimum temperature.

The weather station at New Delhi-Ridge recorded the minimum temperature of 1.5 degrees Celsius, six degrees below normal while the weather station at New Delhi-Lodhi Road recorded a minimum temperature of 2 degrees Celsius, four degrees below normal.

The weather station at New Delhi-Ayanagar recorded the minimum temperature of 3.4 degrees Celsius, four degrees below normal.

The IMD said that cold day to severe cold day conditions prevailed in many parts of Punjab, Haryana, Chandigarh, Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, West Madhya Pradesh; in some areas of East Rajasthan; isolated pockets of West Rajasthan, Bihar and cold day conditions in isolated pockets over Uttarakhand.

“Cold wave to severe cold wave conditions prevailed in many parts of east Madhya Pradesh; in some areas of East Rajasthan; isolated pockets of Himachal Pradesh, Haryana, West Rajasthan and Cold Wave conditions in many parts of West Madhya Pradesh; isolated pockets over Punjab, West Uttar Pradesh,” the IMD said.

The IMD has predicted that the due to continuation of prevailing light winds and high moisture near surface over the Indo-Gangetic plains, dense to very dense fog very likely to continue in some or many parts during night and morning hours over Punjab, Haryana, Chandigarh during next 24 hours and over Uttar Pradesh during next 48 hours; in isolated pockets thereafter for subsequent 3-4 days over the region.

Cold wave conditions and a dense fog is being witnessed all over North India, including the national capital, which disrupted flight operations at Indira Gandhi International Airport with over 12 arrival flights delayed at the airport from different destinations. Indira Gandhi International Airport, Delhi has issued an advisory and launched procedures in view of low visibility conditions caused due to fog.

Around 34 domestic departure flights from the Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGI), Delhi were delayed due to fog and other weather related issues on Saturday, according to the airport authorities. Not just flights but as many as 32 long-distance trains were running behind their scheduled time by seven or more hours due to low visibility and the rough weather.