Srinagar: Night temperatures dipped to settle below the freezing point across the Kashmir valley as cold conditions intensified after a brief respite, officials said on Wednesday.
Owing to clear skies, night temperatures dipped below the freezing point across the valley, the Met office said.
The minimum temperature in Srinagar was recorded at minus 1 degree Celsius, down from the previous night’s 0.9 degrees, it said.
The city had witnessed bright sunshine in the morning.
Gulmarg tourist resort in north Kashmir, recorded a low of minus 9.8 degrees Celsius, compared to the previous night’s minus 6.6 degrees, and was the coldest recorded place in the valley.
In south Kashmir’s Pahalgam, the minimum temperature settled at minus 8.2 degrees Celsius against the previous night’s minus 7.8 degrees.
Qazigund, the gateway town to the valley, logged a low of minus 2.4 degrees Celsius while Konibal in Pampore town registered a minimum temperature of minus 1 degree.
Kupwara in north Kashmir recorded a minimum temperature of minus 2.1 degrees Celsius while Kokernag in south Kashmir saw the mercury settle at minus 1.9 degrees.
The Met office has forecast mainly dry weather over the next few days, with the possibility of light rain or snow at isolated places on Saturday.
It also said the minimum temperature was likely to drop further in the valley and forecast an isolated cold wave over the few days ahead.
From January 8-10 there will be generally dry weather with clouds, an official said.
He said on January 11, the weather conditions will likely be generally cloudy with light rain (plains of Jammu), while snow at isolated higher reaches of Jammu and Kashmir divisions.
From January 12-14, the weather conditions will likely remain dry, while from January 16 the weather will likely be cloudy with light snow at isolated to scattered places.
He however continued that cold wave conditions at isolated places will likely continue, and advised tourists, travelers and transporters to follow advisories from administration and traffic department.
Kashmir is currently under the grip of ‘Chillai-Kalan’ — the harshest period of winter — that began on December 21. During the 40 days of ‘Chillai-Kalan’, the chances of snowfall are the highest and the temperature drops considerably.
