Excelsior Correspondent
Srinagar, Dec 28: Cold conditions returned to Kashmir after a day’s relief as the minimum temperature went down last night and the mercury settled below the freezing point across the region.
The night temperature went down across Kashmir and Ladakh regions, and stayed below the freezing point. The night temperature had increased across the division previous night and settled above the freezing point at several places in the Valley.
Srinagar city recorded the minimum temperature of minus 2.7 degrees Celsius last night – down over three degrees from 0.7 degree Celsius of the previous night. The day temperature settled at 12.5 degrees Celsius, 4.6 degrees above normal.
The mercury in Qazigund in South Kashmir was at a low of minus 1.6 degrees Celsius – over a degree down from minus 0.4 degree Celsius of the previous night. The day temperature settled at 11.8 degrees Celsius, 3.9 degrees above normal.
Kokernag town recorded a low of minus 1.1 degrees Celsius – down from yesterday’s 0.4 degree Celsius. The day temperature was 10.1 degrees Celsius, 3.8 degrees above normal.
Kupwara town in North Kashmir registered a low of minus 2.4 degrees Celsius last night – a decrease of over two degrees from the previous night’s 0.1 degree Celsius. The day temperature settled at 14.2 degrees Celsius, 6.2 degrees above normal.
The mercury at the famous ski-resort of Gulmarg in North Kashmir was at a low of minus 4 degrees Celsius – nearly two degrees colder than the previous night’s minus 2.4 degrees Celsius. The day temperature settled at 5.9 degrees Celsius, 3.2 degrees above normal.
The night temperature in Pahalgam recorded a low of minus 2.5 degrees Celsius – over two degrees down from yesterday’s minus 0.3 degree Celsius. The day temperature settled at 10.5 degrees Celsius, 4.8 degrees above normal.
The night temperature in Kargil decreased nearly six degrees last night as the mercury there was at a low of minus 9.6 degrees Celsius from minus 3.7 degrees Celsius of the previous night. The day temperature settled at minus 2.0 degrees Celsius. Kargil was the coldest recorded place in the State.
Leh town recorded a low of minus 7.1 degrees Celsius, compared to the previous night’s minus 6.2 degrees Celsius. The day temperature settled at 2.7 degrees Celsius.
Kashmir is currently under the grip of ‘Chillai-Kalan’ – a 40-day harshest period of winter – when the chances of snowfall are most frequent and maximum and the temperature drops considerably.
It ends on January 31 next year, but the cold wave continues even after that in the Valley.
The 40-day period is followed by a 20-day long ‘Chillai- Khurd’ (small cold) and a 10-day long ‘Chillai-Bachha’ (baby cold).
The MeT Office has forecast mainly dry weather in Kashmir for a few days.
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