Srinagar records season’s coldest night at -4.1°C, snow likely tomorrow

Mercury continued its free fall as the minimum temperature dropped to minus 4.1°C in Srinagar on Friday recording the coldest night of the season so far.

Due to the clear night sky, the minimum temperature dropped further, said Meteorological (MeT) Department officials, adding that the city recorded coldest night of the season so far.

The department predicted generally dry weather until Saturday, with further drops in the night temperature expected. Daytime temperatures would be warmer, the department said. There is a possibility of light rain over some plains and hilly areas of the Jammu division, and light rain or light snow in higher altitudes late on December 8 into the morning of December 9, the department said.

From December 10-14, dry weather is expected, with a chance of light rain or light snow over isolated areas on December 15-16.

Qazigund, the gateway town to the Valley in south Kashmir, also registered its season’s lowest at minus 4.4°C. The minimum temperature at Pahalgam, a popular tourist resort and a base camp for the annual Amarnath Yatra, dropped to minus 6.5°C, the lowest so far this season.

Gulmarg, the famous ski resort, recorded a low of minus 4.3°C, while Kupwara saw minus 3.4°C and Kokernag recorded minus 2.4°C, according to officials.

Jammu city had 8.6°C, Katra 7.6°C, Batote 1.6°C, Banihal minus 2.6°C and Bhaderwah 0.3°C as the minimum temperature.

The 40-day-long period of harsh winter cold known locally as the ‘Chillai Kalan’ starts each year on December 21 and ends on January 30.

During this period, water bodies in Kashmir freeze partially making boating/rowing very difficult in local lakes and rivers. Frost and fog make the movement of pedestrians and vehicles difficult in the morning, and in order to avoid any mishap, people prefer to remain indoors till the fog clears up. Kashmiris depend more on traditional means to protect themselves from the vagaries of cold than modern methods.

A firepot woven in willow wicker called the ‘Kangri’ is filled with embers and kept under a loose garment called the ‘Pheran’. Locals find these as worthwhile assets since electricity is hard to come by in the UT.