‘Chillai Kalan’: At -8.5°C, Srinagar sees coldest December night in 50 years

As ‘Chillai Kalan’ — the harshest winter period of 40 days — began in Kashmir on Saturday, the biting cold has grappled Valley, with summer capital Srinagar recording its coldest December night in 50 years.

Srinagar saw a bone-chilling night temperature of -8.5°C on Saturday, reveals the Srinagar Meteorological Department.

As locals woke up to the biting cold on Saturday morning, taps were frozen in most of the areas. The famous Dal Lake was also frozen at some places.

‘Chillai Kalan’, a Persian term meaning major cold, begins each year on December 21 and ends on January 30. The period is considered very harsh because of the low temperatures.

A statement issued by the MeT on Saturday read that Srinagar saw the coldest day on December 13, 1934, when it recorded the lowest temperature of -12.8°C.

Today’s temperature was the third lowest since 1934. In 1974, Srinagar recorded a temperature of -10.3°C, the MeT said.

Regarding other areas, the department said Qazigund in South Kashmir recorded a low of -8.2°C, Pahalgam -8.6°C, Kupwara -7.2°C while Gulmarg in north Kashmir recorded the minimum temperature of -6.2°C.

The MeT department on Saturday said a slight rise in the minimum temperature by 1-2°C was expected in the next two days and thereafter, a fall by 2-3°C was again expected till December 26.

“The coldwave will continue at isolated places,” it said. The department also said in view of the fresh snowfall, sub-freezing temperature and icy conditions over roads of important passes and higher reaches, tourists, travellers and transporters were advised to follow administration/traffic advisory.

What is adding to the worries is the dry weather. The Kashmir region continued to witness rainfall deficit and there has been 80 per cent in the deficit rainfall since October.

According to the weather department, there is no major snowfall expected until December 31, barring some light snow over a few reaches during the period.

Last week, when the plain of Valley saw the first snowfall of the season, there was no widespread snowfall in Valley.