Lucknow, Jan 5 (IANS): After a sunny day Sunday, the winter chill returned to the state capital and other parts of the state with icy winds blowing and the early morning temperature falling a few notches Monday.

The weatherman has predicted the return of inclement weather and has also warned about the fog making a comeback in the next few days.

The extreme cold conditions prevailing in the state for over a week during the end of last year had relaxed a bit in the first couple of days of the New Year but as rains followed, the winter chill returned partially.

But the weather changed dramatically since Sunday evening when icy winds started blowing from the neighbouring hill state of Uttarakhand.

The Regional Met Office said that the day temperature had steadily climbed over the course of the past few days.

The maximum temperature in Lucknow Sunday was 14 degrees celsius while the minimum temperature recorded was seven degrees celsius.

The Met Office has also predicted that the wind pattern would change in the coming days and dry weather conditions would be active, leading to dense fog in the mornings and evenings and a drop in mercury.