LUCKNOW, Jan. 2 -- The New Year began on a biting cold note on Thursday as temperatures dipped further across the state, with Barabanki recording the lowest minimum at 3 degrees Celsius, followed by Gorakhpur at 4.4 degrees Celsius and Hardoi at 4.5 degrees Celsius. The city marked its season's lowest at 7 degrees Celsius. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has forecast a colder and drier winter, with below-normal rainfall expected across large parts of the country between January and March 2026. The IMD has also warned of an above-normal number of cold wave days in certain regions of Central India, East Uttar Pradesh, and Bihar during January. Maximum temperatures are likely to stay below normal in many parts of India, though some regions in northwest, northeast, and central India may see normal to above-normal daytime temperatures. Northwest India, including both East and West Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Haryana, Punjab, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu & Kashmir, and Ladakh, is likely to receive below-normal rainfall during this period. htc...