SRINAGAR: The 40-day severe winter period known as “Chillai-Kalan” began on Thursday, true to its name as a low of minus 4.3°C was recorded in Srinagar, according to officials. According to a meteorological department official, Srinagar’s minimum temperature today was 2.8°C colder than average for this time of year in the summer capital of J&K. According to the report, the extreme cold caused many water bodies in Srinagar and other districts to freeze and caused water taps to spout. According to Qazigund, the temperature was at least minus 4.0°C, the same as it was the night before. According to the MeT official, the minimum temperature was 2.4°C lower than usual for Kashmir’s gateway townPahalgam recorded a low of minus 5.8°C, which was 1.4°C below normal for the well-known south Kashmir resort, compared to minus 6.3°C the night before. According to the official, Kokernag, located in south Kashmir, saw a minimum temperature of minus 3.0°C, down from minus 3.3°C the night before. The temperature was 1.3°C below average for the area. According to the official, Kupwara town in north Kashmir saw a low of minus 4.0°C, down from minus 3.5°C the night before. This was 1.4°C below average. According to the official, Gulmarg saw a low of minus 3.0°C, down from minus 4.4°C the night before. The temperature was also 1.8°C higher than usual for the well-known north Kashmiri skiing resort.He said that Jammu recorded a minimum temperature of 7.3°C, which was 1.6°C below normal for the winter capital of J&K and 6.4°C the night before. According to him, Banihal recorded 7.6°C, Batote 6.0°C, and Bhaderwah 2.4°C. Even though ‘Chillai-Kalan’ will conclude on January 30, winter will still persist. The next two periods are called “Chillai-Khurd,” which lasts for 20 days from January 30 to February 19, and “Chillai-Bachha,” or “baby cold,” which lasts for 10 days from February 20 to March 1. For the next 24 hours, MeT has forecast “generally mainly dry” and chilly weather in J&K. He stated that the weather on December 23 would likely be cloudy overall with a chance of light snowfall in a few isolated higher regions. The weather for December 24–28 is predicted to be mainly dry. “Overall there is no significant weather activity till December 28″ .
