SRINAGAR :The cold wave further tightened its grip over Jammu and Kashmir as the night temperature dropped at several places even as Leh was recorded the coldest place in the state with minus 13.2 degrees Celsius, down by 1.2 degree from the previous night.
Followed by the nearby Kargil which recorded a minimum of minus 9.0 degrees Celsius against yesterday’s minus 10.2 degrees Celsius, the spokesperson said.
Gulmarg in north Kashmir, the star attraction for the tourists visiting the valley during winter, remained the coldest recorded place in the Kashmir valley with a low of minus 7.5 degrees Celsius.
The night temperature dropped by almost one degree compared the previous night.
Tourists and locals have started flocking Gulmarg to welcome New year though the weathermen has forecast continued dry weather for the next five days.
The New Year revelers might miss the fresh snowfall but can enjoy their visit in the snow-bound hill resort, 52 km from here, which experienced snowfall on several occasions since November.
Due to sub-zero temperature, the snow remained on the slopes and played an attraction to the tourists to head towards the hill resort.
The weatherman forecast snow-less New Year celebrations, saying the dry weather is expected to continue till January four.
“The dry weather is expected to continue for the next five days. There are chances of change in weather after January 4,” a spokesperson of the MET office said.
Pahalgam hill resort in south Kashmir, which serves as a base camp during the annual Amarnath yatra, recorded a low of minus 5.4 degrees Celsius against yesterday’s minus 6.4 degrees Celsius, the spokesman said.
The minimum temperature recorded a slight improvement in Srinagar as the mercury settled at minus 3.3 degrees Celsius against yesterday’s minus 3. 7 degrees Celsius, the spokesman said.
Kupwara town in north Kashmir recorded a low of minus 3.6 degrees Celsius, while the minimum temperature dropped in southern Kokernag resort to minus 1.3 against yesterday’s minus 0.9 degrees Celsius.
Qazigund, the gateway town to Kashmir along Srinagar-Jammu national highway, recorded a minimum of minus 2.4 degrees Celsius against minus 0.6 degrees Celsius the previous night, the spokesperson said.
Kashmir Valley is currently under the grip of the 40-day harsh winter period known as ‘Chillai-Kalan’ which began on December 21 and during which the chances of snowfall are most frequent and maximum.
The temperatures also drop during this period leading to shivering cold across the state.
Though the Chillai-Kalan ends on January 31 next year, the cold wave usually continues even after that.
The 40-day period is followed by a 20-day long ‘Chillai-Khurd’ (small cold) and a 10-day long ‘Chillai-Bachha’ (baby cold). (PTI)
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