Siliguri, Jan. 1: The cold wave set in with the new year.

Barely had the effect of the western disturbance, which was responsible for the snowfall last Sunday, subsided, strong cold wave conditions set in today.

Accompanied by a dewy night, which gave way to a chilly morning, the temperature recorded during the day was 7 degree Celsius. Last year, the lowest temperature recorded on January 1 was 7.8 degree Celsius.

“Cold wave conditions have made the temperature dip in almost all parts of north Bengal. Last year they had set in on the second week of January,” Subir Sarkar, in-charge of North Bengal University Weather Station said.

It was dim in the earlier part of the day because of the low-lying fog over the region. With the sun throwing warm rays in the afternoon, the highest temperature reached was 20 degree Celsius.

The weathermen, however, predict a fall in temperature by two to three degrees below normal in the coming days. “In the next few days, the temperature will decrease sharply. There will be dense fog,” Sarkar said.

“This year’s winter is expected to be very severe, and it could well be more severe than last year’s cold spell, which was one of the worst the region had experienced in the last 50 years,” weather experts said.

Temperatures over the last few days have consistently been three or four degree below normal.

For picnickers, however, the day held a surprise in store. As the day progressed and the sun cut through the cordon of fog, it turned out to be the prefect day to bask outdoors. Not many in the town were ready to let go of the opportunity. Residents and tourists hired vehicles, decorated to match the spirits of the revellers, and headed for the nearest picnic spots.

Hordes of people gathered at Surya Sen Park and Madhuban Park (an army-managed park near Sunka). Those not keen on an outdoor-lunch soaked in the sun as they made a beeline for restaurants, most of which had a tough time catering to the steady stream of customers.

The adventurous boarded the Darjeeling Himalayan Railway, which went on its maiden chartered-heritage ride.

Those left without an option made the most of the day by visiting the handicrafts fair at Kanchenjunga Stadium, turning the fortunes of the fair, which initially got a luke-warm response due to the snow-fall.