Valley temps dip, cold intensifies
Fayaz Bukhari
SRINAGAR, Feb 2: A day after some respite from intense cold weather conditions in Kashmir, the minimum temperature dropped again across the region even as the weatherman forecast widespread rain and snowfall during the next two days.
A Meteorological Department official said that mercury settled at minus 4.6 degree Celsius against minus 3.1 degree Celsius the previous night in Srinagar and was almost four degrees Celsius below normal for this time of the year.
The minimum temperatures have consistently remained far below normal this season. On January 31, Srinagar recorded a low of minus 8.8 degree Celsius, the lowest temperature of the season so far, and the coldest January night in the past 30 years.
The minimum temperature also hovered around far below the normal in other parts of the Valley.
The mercury settled at minus 9.3 degree Celsius in Pahalgam against minus 6.0 degree Celsius the previous night while the world-famous health resort received 1.4 cms of fresh snowfall in the last 24 hours.
Qazigund recorded a low of minus 4.5 degree Celsius against minus 2.1 degree Celsius the previous night while Kokernag recorded a minimum of minus 8.4 degree Celsius against minus 9.5 degree Celsius the previous night.
Gulmarg recorded a low of minus 7.0 degree Celsius against minus 8.2 degree Celsius the previous night.
The mercury also settled at minus 1.6 degree Celsius in the in Kupwara against minus 2.9 degree Celsius the previous night.
Kashmir is presently under the grip of 20-day-long ‘Chillai-Khurd’ (small cold) and it would be followed by a 10-day-long ‘Chillai-Bachha’ (baby cold). Last month 40 day harshest part of winter, Chillai Kalan ended and it was harshest in last three decades.
The weatherman has forecast scattered to fairly widespread light rain and snow in Jammu and Kashmir in next 24 hours. “Light snowfall is likely to fall at many places during next 36 hours in Kashmir. Light to moderate rain showers are possible at most places of Jammu region till 4th Jan”, the official said.
The official said that the snowfall will bring relief from intense cold wave conditions which has led to freezing of water pipes and water bodies.
Follow our WhatsApp channel
