Lucknow, Dec 7 (IANS): Most parts of Uttar Pradesh continued to shiver under a cold wave on Wednesday as the mercury plummeted to season's lowest at 10 degrees Celsius at midnight, a Met official said.

The maximum temperature hovered at around 17 degrees Celsius in the past 24-hours till Wednesday morning.

With no sunshine and added moisture in the air, cold conditions have intensified in western, eastern and central UP.

"Difference between the maximum and minimum temperature has narrowed down to six degrees Celsius, making it colder," an official at the regional Met office told IANS.

The lowering of temperature at night has triggered early fog, he added.

Regional Met Director JP Gupta said the existing weather conditions would prevail for the next three days and sun will only shine bright after December 10.

School timings in the state capital have been rescheduled and primary schools are now opening at 9.30 a.m rather than at the usual timing of 8 a.m.

District Magistrate of Lucknow, Satyendra Singh has asked school authorities to ensure adherence to new timings or face action.

Icy winds are blowing in many parts of the state, making it unusually cold for this part of the season. At many places visibility remained at around 50 metres while the humidity is at 100 per cent.