Srinagar: Barring Srinagar and Qazigund, the mercury settled below freezing point in Kashmir and Ladakh with the world-famous skiing resort of Gulmarg recording minus 10.0°C for the second consecutive day on Monday.
Gulmarg, which had more than 3-feet of fresh snowfall last week, was the coldest place in the entire JK and Ladakh, even colder than Drass, the second coldest place in the world after Siberia.
A meteorological department official said that Srinagar recorded a low of 0.2°C against the previous night’s 0.3°C. It was 2.1°C above normal for this time of the year in the summer capital of JK, he said.
Kashmir is presently under the grip of a 40-day long harshest period of winter, known locally as ‘Chillai Kalan, which started from December 21.
Qazigund, the gateway town of Kashmir, recorded a low of 0.6°C against minus 0.4°C on the previous night, he said. It had 4cms of snow in the last 24 hours till 0830 hours, he said.
Pahalgam, the famous resort in south Kashmir, recorded a low of minus 2.5°C against minus 1.8°C on the previous night, he said.
Kokernag, also in south Kashmir, recorded a low of minus 1.7°C against minus 2.3°C on the previous night, the official said.
Kupwara town in north Kashmir, recorded a minimum of minus 0.6°C, the same as the previous night, the official said.
Jammu had 0.4mm rain in the 24 hours and recorded a low of 9.7°C against the previous night’s 6.8°C which is 2.3°C above normal for the JK’s winter capital during this time of the year, he said.
Banihal recorded a low of minus 1.8°C while Batote and Bhaderwah saw a minimum of minus 1.8°C and minus 0.1°C respectively, the official said.
Ladakh’s Leh recorded a low of minus 9.5°C against last night’s 8.2°C while mercury at Kargil settled at minus 7.0°C while at Drass recorded a low of minus 8.8°C, the official said.
The weatherman has forecast dry weather at most places in Jammu and Kashmir till January 16.
He said there would be a gradual rise in day temperature and a fall in night mercury. The MeT also urged people putting up in snowbound areas to be wary of avalanches.
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