SRINAGAR: Jammu and Kashmir’s extreme cold weather persisted on Monday, January 1st, with the Valley’s summer capital recording a low of minus 5.2°C.According to a meteorological department official, Srinagar’s minimum temperature dropped to minus 5.2°C from minus 3.4°C the night before. This is 3.1°C below the summer capital of J&K’s normal temperature for this time of year. According to him, Qazigund recorded a minimum temperature of minus 3.6°C as opposed to minus 2.6°C the night before. According to the MeT official, the minimum temperature was 0.7°C lower than usual for Kashmir’s gateway town. Pahalgam recorded a low of minus 5.7°C, which was 0.9°C above normal for the well-known south Kashmir resort, compared to minus 3.4°C the night before. According to the official, Kokernag, which is located in south Kashmir, saw a minimum temperature of minus 1.7°C, down from minus 1.4°C the night before. The temperature was also 1.8°C higher than usual for the area. According to the official, Kupwara town in north Kashmir saw a low of minus 4.5°C, down from minus 3.8°C the night before. It was 2.0°C below normal there. According to the official, Gulmarg recorded a low of minus 3.4°C, down from minus 3.5°C the night before. The temperature was also 3.5°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 0.0°C above normal for the winter capital of J&K and 8.3°C the night before. He said that the lows at Banihal (minus 0.8°C), Batote (3.1°C), and Bhaderwah (0.6°C) were recorded.The Kashmir valley is experiencing “Chillai-Kalan,” a severe 40-day winter season that ends on January 30. It does not, however, signal the end of winter. 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. The weatherman has mostly dry conditions through January 3. He stated that generally speaking, cloudy and dry weather is predicted for January 4-5. “Overall no significant weather activity is expected till January 5.”
