Night temperatures stay below freezing pint, no major snowfall till Dec 31: MeT Office

Srinagar/Dec,23 : With the night temperatures staying several degrees below the freezing point in Kashmir the meteorological department forecasts light snow on higher reaches between December 26-27.However the meteorological department does not forecast any major snowfall in the plains of Kashmir till December 31,
The Valley continued to reel under sub-zero night temperatures on Wednesday as well, even though there was a slight improvement in the mercury at most places, said the officials in the meteorological department, adding that “Srinagar — the summer capital of Jammu and Kashmir — recorded a low of minus 5 degrees Celsius, slightly up from the previous night’s minus 5.2 degrees Celsius”.
The mercury in Pahalgam tourist resort in south Kashmir went down from the previous night’s low of minus 5.8 degrees Celsius to settle at a low of minus 6.6 degrees Celsius, they added. It was the coldest recorded place in the Valley. They said Gulmarg recorded a low of minus 6 degrees Celsius, slightly down from yesterday’s minus 5.8 degrees Celsius.
Qazigund — the gateway town to the Valley — recorded a minimum of minus 4 degrees Celsius, while Kupwara, in the north, registered a low of minus 4.5 degrees Celsius and Kokernag, in the south, minus 4.0 degrees Celsius, the weather department officials said. ‘Chilla-i-Kalan’ — the 40-day harshest winter period when the chances of snowfall are most frequent and maximum — began in Kashmir Monday this week. Cold wave grips the region during this period and the temperature drops considerably leading to the freezing of water bodies including the famous Dal Lake as well as the water supply lines in several parts of the valley.