The chill of winter deepened in Kashmir as Srinagar marked its coldest night this season, plummeting to -5.4°C. The Meteorological Department noted subzero temperatures across all weather stations in the region on the intervening night of Wednesday and Thursday.
Among the various stations, Pahalgam, a renowned tourist destination, recorded the lowest temperature at -5.8°C, closely followed by Konibal at -5.5°C, with Srinagar trailing at -5.4°C, slightly lower than the previous night’s -5.3°C.
Mukhtar Ahmad, the Director of the Meteorological Department, predicted predominantly clear weather across most places in Jammu and Kashmir until December 15. However, there’s a likelihood of generally cloudy weather by December 16, with a chance of light snowfall in the extreme higher reaches.
The forecast suggests a continuation of dry and cold weather till December 24, with the probability of shallow to moderate fog in several parts of Kashmir Division.
In the southern region, Qazigund, considered the gateway to Kashmir, recorded a minimum temperature of -3.8°C, while Kokernag in the same area marked -1.6°C. Moving to the northern area, Gulmarg, the renowned ski resort, recorded -5.0°C, and Kupwara registered a low of -4.2°C.
Jammu, in contrast, witnessed milder temperatures, with the city recording a minimum of 6.7°C. However, Banihal and Bhaderwah marked -0.5°C and -0.2°C, respectively.
With Chilai Kalan, the harshest 40-day winter period in Kashmir, commencing on December 21, residents anticipate bone-chilling temperatures and heavy snowfall. The region typically receives 70% of its precipitation through Western Disturbances, characterized by moisture-laden winds from the Mediterranean.
Typically, December, January, and February are snow months, whereas March and April are considered the wettest rain months, each receiving above 100 mm of rainfall in the Kashmir region.
Sources By Agencies
