Cold weather persisted in most parts of north India with mercury dipping in several areas in the plain due to the impact of northerly cold winds. Mercury dipped across Rajasthan yesterday as strong northerly cold winds blew throughout the day with Srigangangar experiencing chilly weather at 6.4 degrees Celsius. <br/>Cold weather conditions also persisted at many places in Punjab and Haryana, where the minimum temperature hovered below normal limits. Amritsar experienced a low of 4.4 degrees Celsius, two notches below normal.<br/><br/>In Delhi, the maximum temperature settled at 24.4 degrees Celsius, nearly two notches down while the minimum was 9.7 degrees Celsius, normal for this time of the year.<br/>Meanwhile, there was slight respite from cold wave conditions in Kashmir as the minimum temperature rose marginally across several places in the Valley.<br/>However, the mercury in Leh in Ladakh region plunged nine notches to record a low of minus 12.9 degrees Celsius. Leh was the coldest place in Jammu and Kashmir. MeT official said in Srinagar that the weather is likely to remain mainly dry in Kashmir Valley in the next three days.