Patna, Dec. 19: The Met department today issued a cold wave alert in the state for the next 24 hours, while the capital shivered throughout the day.

The wind chill factor over the past week has contributed to the day cold condition despite some sunshine. The plummeting mercury has not only turned the nights and early mornings colder but has also made the days chillier, evident from a departure of up to 10°C from normal maximum temperature during this time of the year. (See chart)

The minimum temperature increased marginally (9.2ºC on Saturday and 11.1ºC on Sunday) over the weekend, providing short respite to the residents. But the chill was back this morning, with the mercury slipping to 7.5ºC at 6.30am, 3.6 degrees lower than that recorded on Sunday morning.

The maximum temperature stood at 15.3ºC, nine degrees below normal.

The district magistrate’s order to suspend Montessori classes (Nursery, LKG and UKG) from December 17 to

25 provided children some respite but there was no escape for office-goers.

“Today being Monday, there was no excuse for bunking office. So I gathered all my strength and set out. The chill gave a feeling of my lungs filling up with ice. Afternoon sunshine provided some relief but I had to face bone-chilling winds on my way back home,” said Surendra Pathak, a resident of Gardanibagh.

Patna Met department director Animesh Chanda said: “Extreme cold and foggy conditions are likely to persist in most parts of the state during the next 24 hours. Hence, we have issued cold wave warning for all districts in the state.”

The weatherman refused to support people’s perception about high-speed chilly winds, though. Chanda said: “Westerly winds are blowing in Patna at an average speed of 4-5km per hour, which is normal in this season. The wind speed reduces at night but most people do not feel this as they remain indoors.”

Turbulence in air traffic at Jaiprakash Narayan International Airport persisted today. Flights started landing only after 2.30pm, while Jet Airways cancelled its Lucknow-Mumbai-Bangalore-Calutta-Patna-Lucknow-Mumbai flight (9W-2513) owing to foggy conditions.

Chanda claimed that the existing weather condition in the state capital is likely to prevail for the next 48 hours.

Gaya was the coldest district in the state today, recording a minimum of 5.2°C, a departure of four degrees from normal.

The Met department has declared cold wave conditions in Gaya. Eleven persons, including three in the past 48 hours, died of severe cold in Chhapra.