Fayaz Bukhari
SRINAGAR/JAMMU, Jan 18: Cold weather conditions tightened grip over Kashmir as the minimum temperatures dipped across the region with Weatherman forecasting week long wet weather from tomorrow, while due to fog and poor visibility seven flights were affected at Jammu Airport today.
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With day weather improving in Jammu during last two days, the night temperature has started going down. Chatha observatory of SKUAST today recorded a low of 2 degrees Celsius temperature, about 5 degrees below normal on Sunday. The maximum temperature in Jammu however, as per MeT office was 20.7 deg C on Sunday.
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Director Airport Authority Jammu, Devender Yadav said that out of the total 30 scheduled flights, seven flights were delayed due to fog and poor visibility at Jammu Airport today. He said five IndiGo and two Air India Express flights were affected on Sunday. No flight was diverted or cancelled. Rest of the flights operated normally, he added.
A MeT official said that Srinagar recorded a low of minus 4.7 degrees Celsius temperature while Sonamarg in Ganderbal district, which received moderate snowfall on Friday, recorded a low of minus 8.9 degrees Celsius.
Shopian recorded a low of minus 6.7 degrees Celsius while Pahalgam recorded a minimum temperature of minus 6 degrees Celsius.
Gulmarg tourist resort registered a low of minus 5.6 degrees Celsius, down from the previous night’s minus 4.2 degrees Celsius.
Qazigund saw a minimum temperature of minus 4.8 degrees Celsius. Kokernag recorded a low of minus 2.2 degrees Celsius, and Kupwara recorded a minimum temperature of minus 4.8 degrees Celsius on Sunday.
However, the day temperatures across the region stayed several notches up as it was sunny day in Kashmir.
Srinagar recorded maximum of 13.3 degree Celsius, Qazigund 14.4 deg, Pahalgam 12.0 deg C, Kupwara 13.1 degree, Kokernag of 12.4 deg and Gulmarg 5.6 degree Celsius. It was 6.5 degree Celsius, 8.1 degree Celsius, 7.4 degree Celsius, 5.8 degree Celsius, 7.4 degree Celsius and 5.3 degree Celsius above normal respectively for these places.
Katra Mata Vaishnodevi recorded a minimum temperature of 6.6 degrees Celsius, Banihal town minus 2.4 degrees C, Batote 3.7 deg c while Bhaderwah registered minus 1.0 deg C temperature today.
The day temperatures, however, in Bhaderwah remained 14.6 deg C, Katra 21.2 deg, Batote 15.8 deg while in Banihal had 16.4 degrees Celsius on Sunday.
The Meteorological Department has forecast back-to-back western disturbances would impact Kashmir, causing wet spells over the next few days. “Light to moderate rain/snow is likely to occur on January 19 and 20,” it said.
The MeT office said there is a possibility of light snow at isolated higher reaches on January 21, following which light to moderate rain or snow is likely till January 25. A few districts of the erstwhile Doda district, Pir-Panjal range and south Kashmir districts might get heavy rain or snow on January 23 and 24.
The Kashmir valley is currently in the midst of ‘Chilla-i-Kalan’, the 40-day harshest winter period, during which night temperatures frequently plunge several degrees below the freezing point, and chances of snowfall are the highest.
‘Chilla-i-Kalan’, which began on December 21 last year, will end on January 30, followed by ‘Chilla Khurd’ and ‘Chillai Bachha’.
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