New Delhi, Jan 4 (IANS): Delhi woke up to a bone-chilling and foggy Friday as the minimum temperature dropped to 2.7 degrees Celsius, the season's lowest and four notches below average. The skies cleared up as the day advanced and the sun came out after several days.

However, the fog affected train schedules, with as many as 45 trains delayed for about 10 hours.

"The weather in Delhi is better than Thursday but not in other northern parts. There is a heavy backlog leading to delays and rescheduling of trains," a Northern Railways spokesperson told IANS.

"Around 45 trains are running behind schedule by 10 hours due to heavy fog all over northern India and 12 trains have been cancelled," the official said.

Sixteen flights were delayed at the Indira Gandhi International Airport due to fog.

"Due to fog during the morning hours, 24 flights were operated in Low Visibility Procedure and 16 were delayed," an airport official said.

Visibility in the city at 8.30 a.m was reduced to 50 metres, and motorists and bikers had a tough time steering through the foggy roads, particularly those who rode or drove from Gurgaon.

"I had a tough time steering through fog. It is very cold," Vivek Bhatnagar, a motorist from Patparganj in east Delhi, said.

Many wrapped themselves in multiple layers of woollens. The condition of the homeless became worse and most looked for relief around bonfires.

"My legs and hands have turned numb. I'm not able to pull my rickshaw till noon," said Ram Pandey, a rickshaw-puller here.

According to India Meteorological Department (IMD), the afternoon is expected to be sunny but cold winds will return in the evening.

Friday's maximum temperature is expected to be around 13 degrees Celsius.

Thursday's maximum was eight notches below average at 12.7 degrees and minimum was three notches below average at 4.4 degrees Celsius.