Excelsior Correspondent
Srinagar, Dec 30: People in Kashmir experienced huge relief from the intense cold wave conditions as the mercury rose by several degrees across Kashmir and Ladakh, even as the minimum temperature continued to settle below the freezing point.
The night temperature in Kashmir division, including Ladakh, rose by several degrees on Saturday night owing to a cloudy sky, providing huge relief to the residents from the intense cold wave conditions prevalent over the last few days.
Srinagar recorded a low of minus 2.4 degrees Celsius Saturday night, an increase of nearly five degrees from minus 7.2 degrees Celsius on Friday night. The day temperature settled at 12.6 degrees Celsius, 4.7 degrees above normal.
Qazigund in South Kashmir recorded a low of minus 1.8 degrees Celsius, up from minus 6.2 degrees Celsius from the Friday night. The day temperature settled at 13.0 degrees Celsius, 5.1 degrees above normal.
The nearby Kokernag town registered a low of minus 2.7 degrees Celsius as against minus 5.8 degrees Celsius on the Friday night. The day temperature settled at 10. 3 degrees Celsius, 4.0 degrees above normal.
Kupwara in north Kashmir recorded a low of minus 3.4 degrees Celsius on Saturday night compared to minus 6.0 degrees Celsius Friday night. The day temperature settled at 10.7 degrees Celsius, 2.7 degrees above normal.
The night temperature in Pahalgam in South Kashmir settled at a low of minus 2.5 degrees Celsius on Saturday night, up from minus 8.3 degrees Celsius on the Friday night. The day temperature settled at 10. 4 degrees Celsius, 4.7 degrees above normal.
The ski-resort of Gulmarg in North Kashmir recorded a low of minus 4.0 degrees Celsius an increase of three degrees from the previous night. The day temperature settled at 3.5 degrees Celsius, 0.8 degrees above normal.
The night temperature in Leh town in Ladakh region of the State increased over five degrees from the Friday night’s minus 17.5 degrees Celsius to settle at a low of minus 12.2 degrees Celsius Saturday night. He said Leh was the coldest recorded place in Jammu and Kashmir. The day temperature at Leh was 4.4 degree Celsius.
Kashmir is currently under the grip of ‘Chillai-Kalan’, the 40-day harshest period of winter when the chances of snowfall are most frequent and maximum and the temperature drops considerably.
‘Chillai-Kalan’ ends on January 31, but the cold wave continues even after that in Kashmir. The 40-day period is followed by a 20-day long ‘Chillai-Khurd’ (small cold) and a 10-day long ‘Chillai-Bachha’ (baby cold).
However, the winter this season has been dry so far, although there was a spell of early snowfall in the Valley in first and second week of November.
The prolonged dry spell has resulted in an increase in common ailments like cough, cold and other respiratory problems, especially among children and elderly.
The weatherman has predicted light rain or snowfall at isolated places in the valley and Ladakh region and at scattered places across the State over three days from Tuesday.
Follow our WhatsApp channel
