Srinagar|Jan, 22 : Cold wave intensifies with a minimum temperature that further slips down in the Kashmir valley as Srinagar recorded a low of -5.3°C and Pahalgam -6.9°C, respectively, on Monday. The twin districts of south Kashmir’s Pulwama and Shopian remained the coldest places, recording a low of -7.4°C respectively on Monday, an independent observer said.
The Meteorological Centre Srinagar said Srinagar recorded below 3.0°C on Monday, against the normal of -2.3°C. Amid dry weather conditions, Srinagar and other parts of the Kashmir valley are witnessing summer-like weather during the day, as bright sun appears in the harshest part of winter, “Chillia Kalan.”. Srinagar recorded a maximum temperature of 13.0°C on the previous day, which was 6.1°C above normal against 6.9°C. Tourist hot spot Pahalgam remained the coldest place, with a low of -6.9°C against the -6.5°C recorded the previous night. It was still 0.6°C above normal for the valley of shepherds in south Kashmir.
Qazigund on Srinagar-Jammu national highway plunged to a low of -5.2°C against the -5.0°C a day ago, while the picnic spot in south Kashmir’s Kokernag recorded a low of -2.6°C against the -2.3°C recorded the previous night. There was a slight improvement in nighttime temperature at Gulmarg, recorded at -4.0°C on Monday against the -5.0°C recorded the previous night. However, it was 4.2°C above normal for the famous ski resort of North Kashmir. Kupwara dipped to a low of -6.0°C against the -5.7°C recorded the previous day. It was 3.1°C below normal for the frontier Kashmir district during this period of the season, the MeT office said.
The MeT office said the dry weather will continue till January 24, while the weather will generally turn cloudy with the possibility of light snow over isolated higher reaches of Jammu and Kashmir from January 25–26. It said that during January 27–28, the weather will remain generally cloudy with light rain or snow over scattered places, and from January 29–31, there is a possibility of light rain or snow at many places, which is very likely. There is a possibility of light rain or snow in scattered places over Jammu and Kashmir on February 1, the MeT office said.
