Srinagar shivers at -3.3°C, dry weather to continue in Valley

The minimum temperature dropped in Kashmir on Friday as cold conditions tightened their grip on the Valley, with the Meteorological Department predicting mostly dry weather until the end of the month, officials said.

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The minimum temperature in Srinagar settled at minus 3.3°C on Thursday night, down from the previous night’s minus 2°C, according to the meteorological department.

Pahalgam, one of the base camps for the annual Amarnath Yatra in south Kashmir, recorded a low of minus 7°C, down from minus 5.6°C the night before.

The tourist resort of Gulmarg in north Kashmir, known for skiing, recorded a minimum temperature of minus 8.5°C, a degree lower than the previous night.

The minimum temperature was minus 2.5°C in Qazigund, minus 5°C at Konibal in Pampore town, minus 4°C in Kupwara, and minus 1.5°C in Kokernag.

Kashmir is currently in the grip of ‘Chillai-Kalan’ -- the harshest period of winter. During the 40 days of ‘Chillai-Kalan’, which began on December 21, the chances of snowfall are the highest, and the mercury drops considerably.

‘Chillai-Kalan’ ends on January 30, followed by a 20-day ‘Chillai-Khurd’ (small cold) and a 10-day ‘Chillai-Bachha’ (baby cold).

The meteorological department forecast mainly dry weather for the remainder of ‘Chillai-Kalan’.

It said the weather is likely to remain cloudy but dry until January 29. A fresh spell of light rain or snow at isolated places during the night of January 29 or the morning of January 30 is possible, after which the weather will stay partly to generally cloudy on January 31, the department said.

Overall, no significant weather changes are expected until the end of January, the MeT Office said.