Cold conditions ease as minimum temperature rises

Amid 40 days of Chillai Kalan, tourists enjoy rare sunny weather in Srinagar. -Excelsior/Shakeel
Amid 40 days of Chillai Kalan, tourists enjoy rare sunny weather in Srinagar. -Excelsior/Shakeel

Avalanche warning for 5 districts

Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, Dec 24: The cold conditions eased across Kashmir as the minimum temperature rose at most places and settled above the freezing point, officials said today.
Owing to the overcast night skies after the recent snowfall and rains, the cold conditions eased across Kashmir and the night temperature rose at most places, officials said.

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They said the minimum temperature stayed above the freezing point, barring in Pahalgam tourist resort in south Kashmir, and the famous skiing resort of Gulmarg in the north.
The minimum temperature in Srinagar on Tuesday night was recorded at 3.0 degrees Celsius, up from 2.7 degrees Celsius the night before and 5.4 degrees above the season’s normal, according to the officials.
Other places in the Valley also registered above-normal minimum temperatures ranging from 1.8 to 5.6 degrees Celsius.
The tourist resorts of Gulmarg and Pahalgam recorded sub-zero temperatures, with the mercury settling at minus 4.2 degrees Celsius and minus 2.2 degrees Celsius, respectively.
In south Kashmir, Qazigund recorded a low of 3.2 degrees Celsius and Kokernag 2.9 degrees Celsius.
Kupwara in north Kashmir recorded a minimum temperature of 2.0 degrees Celsius.
The Meteorological Department has forecast generally dry weather over the next few days.
Meanwhile, an avalanche warning was issued in five districts of Jammu and Kashmir today in view of the recent heavy snowfall in the higher reaches of the Union Territory, officials said.
The low danger avalanche warning has been issued for Doda, Ganderbal, Kishtwar, Poonch and Ramban districts. The avalanche is likely to occur 2,800 metres above these districts during the next 24 hours, they said. People have been asked to avoid avalanche-prone areas and follow official advisories. Most of the higher reaches of Jammu and Kashmir have received moderate to heavy snowfall this week.