SRINAGAR: Monday’s icy temperatures in Kashmir Valley persisted without a break, with a low of minus 4.3°C recorded in Srinagar, the day after the city saw the coldest night of the season. According to a meteorological department official, the temperature was 1.9°C lower than usual for this time of year in J&K’s summer capital. He added that the previous evening’s minimum temperature in Srinagar was minus 5.6°C. According to him, Qazigund recorded a minimum temperature of – 4.2°C as opposed to minus 5.0°C the night before. According to the MeT official, the minimum temperature was 1.1°C lower than usual for Kashmir’s gateway town. Pahalgam saw a low of minus 5.3°C, down from minus 6.5°C the night before. This was 1.7°C above average for the well-known south Kashmiri resort.According to the official, Kokernag, located in south Kashmir, saw a minimum temperature of minus 2.1°C, down from minus 2.7°C the night before. The temperature was also 1.9°C higher than usual for the area. According to the official, Kupwara town in north Kashmir saw a low of minus 5.0°C, down from minus 5.3°C the night before. It was also 2.3°C below average. According to the official, Gulmarg saw a low of minus 4.0°C, down from minus 4.4°C the night before. The temperature was also 3.8°C higher than usual for the well-known north Kashmiri skiing resort. According to him, Jammu recorded a minimum temperature of 4.3°C, which was 3.1°C below typical for the winter capital of J&K, compared to 3.4°C the night before. He claimed that the lows in Banihal (minus 1.2°C), Batote (3.2°C), and Bhaderwah (0.4°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. Generally cloudy conditions with a chance of light rain or snow over “extreme isolated higher reaches” are anticipated for January 9, according to the MeT official.He stated that mainly dry weather is anticipated from January 10–14. “Overall no significant weather activity is expected till January 14.”
