Weather conditions across Uttar Pradesh cleared on Wednesday afternoon after two days of rain caused by western disturbances, as reported by Meteorological (MeT) officials. The light drizzle experienced on Monday and Tuesday had led to fog and a noticeable drop in temperatures, intensifying the cold weather over the past 48 hours.
According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), the weather is expected to remain clear on Thursday before more rain is anticipated to resume from December 27. On Wednesday morning, Lucknow recorded 0.5 mm of rainfall, which resulted in a 1.5-degree Celsius drop in the temperature for the day. However, by the afternoon, the sun made an appearance, with the minimum temperature in the city recorded at 14 degrees Celsius, offering pleasant weather for Christmas festivities.
Devendra Verma, a resident of Gomti Nagar, shared his relief, saying, “It rained on Tuesday, and the sky remained overcast, but we got a respite from the rain and the sun came out in the afternoon. This allowed us to enjoy the Christmas holiday and go for an outing with family.”
Meteorologist Atul Kumar Singh predicted that temperatures would dip further starting December 27, with a slight increase in night temperatures. “The weather will become colder by December 29, affecting the entire state and potentially intensifying daytime chills,” said Singh. The IMD also issued a precautionary advisory for farmers, urging them to take necessary precautions to safeguard crops from potential rain and hailstorms.
The recent rainfall has led to a notable improvement in air quality across several districts of Uttar Pradesh. On Tuesday, the Air Quality Index (AQI) recorded 182 in Lucknow, 178 in Meerut, 109 in Prayagraj, 102 in Agra, 97 in Gorakhpur, 93 in Hapur, and 78 in Kanpur. While some cities reported satisfactory AQI levels, others showed an average rating, indicating a general improvement in the region’s air quality due to the light drizzle.