Lucknow, Jan 16 (IANS): Incessant rains have intensified the winter chill in Uttar Pradesh and has also led to a further plunge in mercury in Lucknow and other parts of the state.
All schools in Lucknow and Kanpur, up to class 8, have been closed on Thursday.
According to Met officials, westerly disturbances in the hill areas are responsible for the fresh spell of cold wave that is likely to continue for the next four days.
Heavy rains were expected in western Uttar Pradesh and hailstorm was likely in some districts.
Thick fog was likely to take over from Saturday as rains subside.
"Temperatures are expected to fall till January 20," said a Met official, adding that the maximum temperatures hovered around 15 degrees Celsius.
According to Skymet, heavy rainfall is likely on Thursday in Bijnor, Saharanpur, Muzaffarnagar, Moradabad, Rampur, Bareilly, Meerut, Bulandshahr, Shahjahanpur, Ferozabad, Aligarh and Hamirpur.