Colder nights return to Kashmir
Minimum readings settle below the freezing point across most parts of the Valley
After a brief respite, Kashmir witnessed a sharp drop in night temperatures, with minimum readings settling below the freezing point across most parts of the valley, officials said on Tuesday.
Srinagar, the summer capital of Jammu and Kashmir, recorded a low of -1.8° Celsius, nearly four degrees down from the Monday night’s 1.9° Celsius, they said.
A thick layer of fog engulfed the city and most other parts of the Valley, particularly areas around water bodies, during the early hours, the Meteorological Department said.
Qazigund in south Kashmir recorded a low of -2.2° Celsius, while Kupwara in north Kashmir’s settled at -1.8° Celsius. Kokernag in south Kashmir registered a minimum of minus 0.6° Celsius.
In Gulmarg, the minimum temperature settled above the freezing point at 0.5° Celsius, the weather office said. The famous ski resort was the only place in the Kashmir valley where night temperatures remained above freezing.
Pahalgam, one of the base camps for the Amarnath Yatra in south Kashmir, logged a low of -2.6° Celsius.
Konibal and Pulwama towns in south Kashmir were the coldest recorded places in Jammu and Kashmir, registering minimum temperatures of -4° Celsius.
The weather is likely to remain partly cloudy till December 18, after which, there is a possibility of light rain or snow at scattered places across the valley till December 21, coinciding with the onset of ‘Chillai Kalan’, the Met office said.
