Srinagar shivers at minus 6.6 degree Celsius

Srinagar:The night chill has intensified across the Valley with Srinagar, the summer capital of Jammu and Kashmir recording the coldest night of the season as the mercury settled at minus 6.6 degree Celsius last night.
The minimum temperature is witnessing dip from the past few days while the officials said that Srinagar recorded the second lowest night temperature in the last one decade.
Earlier in 2010, the lowest night temperature was recorded in Srinagar when mercury settled at minus 7.7 degree Celsius.
A meteorological department official said Srinagar witnessed the season’s coldest night as the mercury settled at minus 6.6 degree Celsius last night.
Deputy Director of Meteorological department (MeT), Mukhtar Ahmad said that the night temperature would witness an increase from tomorrow, saying that on December 21-22, it would rise further as the weather would remain mainly cloudy during the period.
He said on December 21-22, there is possibility of light rains of snowfall in higher reaches, adding that as per the forecast, there is no major system till December 25-26 in J&K and Ladakh.
MeT spokesman said the minimum temperature at world famous ski-resort, Gulmarg was recorded at minus 9.6 degree Celsius while Pahalgam’s night temperature settled at minus 9.5 degree Celsius.
Notably, ‘Chillai-Kalan’, the 40-day harsh winter period will commence from December 21, which will on January 31, following which a 20-day-long ‘Chillai-Khurd’ (small cold) and a 10-day-long ‘Chillai-Bachha’ (baby cold) will commence in the Valley