Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, Dec 27: The night temperature in Kashmir rose by several notches while day was warmer, providing relief from intense cold conditions to residents in the region.
The minimum temperature in Srinagar city increased over three degrees from minus 2.6 degrees Celsius of the previous night to settle at 0.7 degree Celsius last night. The day temperature settled at 12. 1 degree Celsius, which is 4.2 degrees above normal.
The mercury in Qazigund in South Kashmir was a low of minus 0.4 degree Celsius, nearly three degrees up from minus 3 degrees Celsius of the previous night. The day temperature settled at 12.0 degree Celsius which is 4.1 degrees above normal.
Kokernag town recorded a low of 0.4 degree Celsius – up from yesterday’s minus 1.6 degrees Celsius. The day temperature was 10.9 degree Celsius which is 4.6 degrees above normal.
Kupwara town in North Kashmir registered a low of 0.1 degree Celsius last night, up from the previous night’s minus 3.4 degrees Celsius. The day temperature settled at 13.5 degree Celsius, which is 8 degrees above normal.
The mercury at the famous ski-resort of Gulmarg in North Kashmir settled at a low of minus 2.4 degrees Celsius – two degrees warmer than the previous night. The day temperature settled at 3.8 degree Celsius which is 1.0 degree above normal.
The night temperature in Pahalgam recorded a low of minus 0.3 degree Celsius, up over four degrees from yesterday’s minus 4.9 degrees Celsius. The day temperature settled at 8.3 degrees Celsius, which is 2.6 degrees above normal.
The night temperature in Kargil increased nearly 12 degrees last night as the mercury there settled at a low of minus 3.7 degrees Celsius from minus 15.4 degrees the previous night. The day temperature settled at 3.6 degree Celsius.
Leh town recorded a low of minus 6.2 degrees Celsius, up over six degrees from the previous night’s minus 12.7 degrees Celsius. The day temperature was 4.7 degree, 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 light rains or snowfall at isolated places in the higher reaches of Kashmir today, but predicted mainly dry weather for rest of the week from tomorrow.