Srinagar: Freezing cold conditions prevailed across Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh even there was a slight rise in minimum temperature with Gulmarg recording a low of minus 9.0°C.
An official of the meteorological department said that Srinagar, the summer capital of JK, recorded a low of minus 3.0°C against the previous night’s minus 4.0°C.
Although the temperature was above 1.0°C than the previous night, it was minus 0.9°C below normal for this time of the year.
Kashmir is presently under the grip of a 40-day long harshest period of winter, known locally as ‘Chillai Kalan, which started on December 21.
The mercury settled at the world-famous resort of Gulmarg at minus 9.0°C against minus 9.6°C on the previous night, he said.
Qazigund, the gateway town of Kashmir, had a low of minus 3.0°C against 4.2°C on the previous night, he said.
Pahalgam, the famous resort in south Kashmir, recorded a low of minus 6.6°C against minus 8.9°C on the previous night, he said.
Kokernag, also in south Kashmir, recorded a low of minus 3.3°C against minus 3.6°C on the previous night, the official said.
Kupwara town in north Kashmir recorded a minimum of minus 2.6°C against minus 4.4°C on the previous night, the official said.
Jammu, the JK’s winter capital, saw a drop temperature by 8 notches from the previous night, recording a low of 5.1°C which is minus 1.5°C below normal for the place during this time of the year, he said.
Ladakh’s Leh had a low of minus 15.0°C against last night’s minus 16.0°C while Kargil recorded a minimum of minus 10.2°C.
Drass in Kargil, the second coldest place in the world after Siberia, recorded a low of minus 19.8°C, the official said.
The weatherman has forecast widespread snow and rain spell of “moderate-intensity” from January 4 to 6 in JK and Ladakh.
“Widespread snow/rain spell of moderate-intensity is most likely during 4-6 January in both JK and Ladakh,” the official said.
He said a fall in minimum temperature is expected till January 2.
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