Srinagar: Severe cold wave continues unabated in Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh on Thursday as the meteorological (MET) office forecast another spell of snow and rain on February 2 and 3.
The MeT officials said that dry weather is likely to continue in J&K and Ladakh till January 31 after which a spell of snow and rain of light intensity on February 2 and 3 is expected.
The officials further said that improvement in both minimum and maximum temperatures is expected after January 31.
The ongoing 40-day long of harsh winter cold the ‘Chillai Kalan’ will also end on January 31.
Meanwhile, the mercury plunged by several degrees across Kashmir as the Valley was gripped by intense cold wave conditions on Thursday, officials said here.
The extreme subzero temperatures have resulted in freezing of water-bodies and drinking water supply lines in many areas of the Valley.
Srinagar city recorded a low of minus 5.6 degrees Celsius, plunging more than three degrees from minus 2 degrees Celsius the previous night, the officials said.
Qazigund – the gateway town to the Valley – recorded a minimum of 10.5 degrees Celsius – down from minus 4.4 degrees Celsius the previous night, they said.
The minimum temperature at the Gulmarg skiing resort, in north Kashmir’s Baramulla district, settled at minus 13.4 degrees Celsius last night – down from last night’s minus 12 degrees Celsius.
Pahalgam tourist resort in south Kashmir recorded a low of minus 12.3 degrees Celsius – down over five degrees from previous night’s minus 7.7 degrees Celsius.
Kupwara recorded a low of minus 2.2 degrees Celsius, while Kokernag, in the south, recorded minus 10.7 degrees Celsius.
The minimum temperatures are expected to remain below freezing point for the next few days as the weatherman has forecast the possibility of a western disturbance hitting the Valley on February 02.
Kashmir is currently under the grip of ‘Chillai-Kalan’ — the 40-day harshest winter period when a cold wave grips the region and the temperature drops considerably leading to the freezing of water-bodies including the Dal Lake here.
