New Delhi, Mar 16 (UNI) The chill sweeping through Delhi for the past few days somewhat abated today with the decrease in the intensification of the cold surface winds flowing through the national capital since yesterday.

The decrease in the intensity of the Northwesterlies led to a sharp rise in minimum temperature to 14.0 Degree Celsius, from 10.8 degrees.

The maximum also rose to 25.5 degrees, from 24 degrees yesterday.

The chill could abate further in the coming days in Delhi and other parts of Northwest India with the weatherman forecasting a further weakening of Northwesterly winds during the next few days.

''Due to likely weakening of the Northwesterly winds, both night and day temperatures are likely to register an increasing trend over these regions during the next 4-5 days,''the weather office said.

The met office has forecast a mainly clear sky in Delhi during the next 24 hours with the likelihood of strong surface winds.

The minimum temperature tomorrow would be 14 degrees, the met office said.

The hot and sunny weather conditions in the national capital in the past week gave way to a wet and chilly weather on Monday as moderate to heavy rains lashed the capital, plumetting mercury by several degrees Celsius.

The rainfall led to a sharp drop in maximum temperature in Delhi to 21.3 degrees, nine degrees below normal, lending a chill in the air, after nearly a week of hot and sunny weather in the post-Holi period.

UNI