Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, Nov 27: The coldest night of the season was recorded at -4.4°C in Srinagar today as an intense cold wave swept across the region, driving temperatures well below freezing in several districts.
Follow the Daily Excelsior channel on WhatsApp
According to the Meteorological Department, Shopian was the coldest district in the Valley at -6.5°C, followed by Pulwama at -5.8°C and Baramulla at -5.5°C. Anantnag and Kulgam recorded minimum temperatures of -5.7°C and -2.4°C, respectively. In north Kashmir, Bandipora and Kupwara recorded -4.5°C each, while in central Kashmir Budgam dipped to -4.6°C and Ganderbal to -3.3°C.
Click here to watch video
Tourist destinations across Kashmir also reported severe cold with Pahalgam recording -5.0°C, Kokernag -1.6°C and Gulmarg ski resort -1.0°C. The MeT Department said minimum temperatures in many parts of the Valley were 2-4°C below normal for this time of year.
Zojila Pass on the Srinagar-Leh highway remained the coldest point in the wider region at -16.0°C.
The Jammu division too witnessed a steep decline in the mercury level. The winter capital, Jammu city, recorded a minimum of 8.7°C, Katra 8.5°C and Kathua 8.2°C. Higher-altitude areas were colder, Banihal recording -1.5°C and Bhaderwah touching 0.4°C. Udhampur (4.6°C), Ramban (4.1°C) and Rajouri (2.0°C) too reported significant declines.
Meanwhile, conditions remained even harsher in Ladakh, as the temperatures stayed deeply sub-zero. The mercury had settled at -9.5°C in Kargil, -8.6°C in Leh and -7.7°C in Nubra, indicating an early intensification of winter in the high-altitude region.
The weather office has predicted mainly dry conditions across Jammu and Kashmir till December 1, with no significant change expected in the temperature pattern. As the cold heightens, winter vacations have already commenced for Kindergarten classes in schools across the Valley while the higher classes will close in phases from December 1.
Follow our WhatsApp channel
