Srinagar: There was slight respite from cold wave in Kashmir but the minimum temperature settled several degrees below the freezing point across the Valley, officials said on Tuesday.
Srinagar recorded a low of minus 2.6 degrees Celsius on Monday night, up by nearly one degree from the previous night’s minus 3.5 degrees Celsius.
Gulmarg resort in north Kashmir’s Baramulla district recorded a low of minus 5.6 degrees Celsius, down from minus 5 degrees Celsius the previous night.
The resort was the coldest recorded place in the Valley.
The officials said Pahalgam tourist resort in south Kashmir’s Anantnag district recorded a low of minus 2.8 degrees Celsius. The south Kashmir resort had recorded minus 5.3 degrees Celsius previous night.
The mercury in Kupwara in north Kashmir settled at a low of minus 3.5 degrees Celsius.
Qazigund, the gateway town to the Valley, recorded minus 2.6 degrees Celsius, while Kokernag recorded a low of minus 2.8 degrees Celsius.
The weather office has forecast colder nights towards the weekend with possibility of strong Western Disturbance affecting the region around Christmas.
However locals news agency KNS quoted Director MeT Sonum Lotus as saying that there is a possibility of light snowfall in Srinagar and upper reaches of north Kashmir, particularly Kupwara and Gulmarg. He said that light snowfall has already started in Gulmarg and will continue till tomorrow.
Lotus also said that weather will remain dry from December 16 onwards.
