Srinagar, Jan 10: The minimum temperature fell by several degrees, intensifying bone chilling conditions across Kashmir, officials said on Wednesday.
The dry weather has resulted in freezing nights and warmer than usual days as Srinagar on Tuesday recorded a maximum temperature of 14.2 degrees Celsius which was 8.1 degrees higher than usual for this time of the year.
Jammu, the winter capital of the union territory, was colder than Srinagar on Tuesday recording a high of 11.6 degrees Celsius, which was 6.5 degrees below the normal.
Srinagar city recorded a minimum temperature of minus 5 degrees Celsius on Tuesday night, down from minus 2.4 degrees Celsius recorded on the previous night, the officials said.
They said Qazigund recorded a low of minus 4.4 degrees against minus 2.6 degrees Celsius, while in the ski resort of Gulmarg in north Kashmir it was minus 5 degrees Celsius on Tuesday night, slightly down from the minimum temperature recorded the previous night.
Pahalgam in south Kashmir’s Anantnag district recorded a minimum temperature of minus 6.3 degrees Celsius, up from the previous night’s minus 4.4 degrees Celsius, they said.
The minimum temperature in Kokernag town settled at minus 2.4 degrees Celsius and in Kupwara at minus 4.7 degrees Celsius.
Kashmir is currently under the grip of “Chilla-i-Kalan”, a 40-day harsh winter period, when a cold wave sweeps the region and temperatures drop considerably leading to the freezing of water bodies as well as water in pipes.
The chances of snowfall are the highest during this period and most areas, particularly the higher reaches, receive heavy snowfall.
Kashmir has been going through a prolonged dry spell and a 79 percent deficit in rainfall was recorded for December while there has been no precipitation in the first week of January.
There has been no snowfall in most plain areas of Kashmir, while the upper reaches of the valley have received lesser than usual amount of snow. The meteorological department has forecast mainly dry weather till January 12.
Jammu records season’s coldest day
Jammu recorded the coldest day of the season on Wednesday, with the maximum temperature plummeting nine notches below normal to settle at 9 degrees Celsius.
The minimum temperature in the city was recorded at 4.8 degrees Celsius, which was 2.6 degrees Celsius below normal for this part of the season, an official of the meteorological department said.
The residents of Jammu plains are reeling under severe cold wave over the past one week with the mercury hovering several notches below normal due to foggy conditions in the morning hours and absence of the Sun during the day.
Foggy weather has also hit the rail and air traffic, causing inconvenience to the passengers.
Banihal along the Jammu-Srinagar national highway recorded a maximum of 18 degrees Celsius, which is 7.6 degrees Celsius above normal. However, the night temperature in the highway town was minus 1.4 degrees Celsius.
Katra, the base camp for pilgrims visiting the Mata Vaishno Devi shrine in Reasi district, recorded a maximum of 16.2 degrees Celsius and a minimum of 5.7 degrees Celsius, the official said.
The picturesque Bhaderwah in Doda district recorded a high of 15.1 degrees Celsius and a low of minus 0.2 degree Celsius.
