Srinagar: Minimum temperatures rose marginally across Kashmir due to overnight cloud cover but remained below the freezing point, officials said on Sunday.
The minimum temperature in Srinagar settled at minus 3 degrees Celsius on Saturday night, up from the previous night’s minus 3.6 degrees Celsius, the meteorological department said.
North Kashmir’s tourist resort of Gulmarg recorded a minimum temperature of minus 5.6 degrees Celsius, up from the previous night’s minus 6.5 degrees Celsius, it said.
Pahalgam in south Kashmir recorded a low of minus 6.2 degrees Celsius, up from minus 7.6 degrees Celsius the night before. Pahalgam was the coldest place in the valley.
The minimum temperature was minus 4 degrees Celsius in Qazigund, minus 3.6 degrees Celsius in Konibal in Pampore town, minus 4 degrees Celsius in Kupwara and minus 3.9 degrees Celsius in Kokernag.
The weather in the valley will be mostly cloudy but dry till January 18 with a possibility of light snow at isolated higher reaches on January 15 and 16, the meteorological department said.
Kashmir is currently in the grip of ‘Chillai-Kalan’ — the harshest period of winter. During the 40 days of ‘Chillai-Kalan’, which began on December 21, the chances of snowfall are the highest and the temperature drops considerably.
