LUCKNOW, Jan. 9 -- Uttar Pradesh is likely to be in the grip of severe chill from January 12 as the Met department has predicted dense fog and chances of cold-day conditions. Due to the influence of a Western Disturbance centered around Punjab, there are indications of a gradual improvement in the fog and cold conditions prevailing in the state until January 11. On Thursday morning, dense to very dense fog was observed in several parts of the state. Cold Day conditions were recorded in Hardoi, Kanpur, Ballia, Banda, Amethi, Farrukhabad, Hamirpur, Moradabad, Aligarh and Agra, while severe cold day conditions were recorded in Bareilly, Prayagraj, Jhansi, Varanasi, and Shahjahanpur. In this sequence, Prayagraj (11.4degC) and Babatpur (Varanasi) (11.6degC) recorded severe cold day conditions, marking the fifth coldest day in January's observational history, while Shahjahanpur (11.2degC) recorded the ninth coldest day in January's observational history. The cold and dry north-westerly/westerly winds coming from the snow-covered mountainous regions and the effect of dense fog resulted in delayed or no sunshine, leading to cold day conditions. The current spell of intense cold across the state during the first week of January is expected to see a short-term improvement until January 11, with a gradual decrease in fog density and an increase in temperature due to the influence of the Western Disturbance centered over northern Punjab. The day temperature in Prayagraj (11.4 degrees) was 10.5 degrees below normal. And it equaled last year's lowest temperature. Varanasi (airport) at 11.6 degrees, was 9.5 degrees below normal. Bareilly and Shahajhanpur recorded maximum temperatures of 11.2 degrees. The weather is likely to be dry over the state on Friday. The IMD issued a warning of dense fog very likely at isolated places over U.P, the weatherman said on Thursday. Churk recorded lowest night temperature at 4 degrees, Gorakhpur and Varanasi 4.8 degrees, Bareilly and Sultanpur 5 degrees. The weather in Lucknow was relatively better on Thursday with some sunshine. The day and night temperatures were 16.9 and 6.4 degrees, respectively,...