SRINAGAR: On Friday, the second day of the 40-day harsh winter period known as “Chillai-Kalan,” Jammu and Kashmir experienced severe cold conditions. According to a meteorological department official, Srinagar’s minimum temperature was minus 3.3°C, down from minus 4.3°C the night before. This is below the 1.3°C average for the summer capital of J&K at this time of year. According to him, Qazigund recorded a minimum of minus 3.3°C as opposed to 4.0°C the night before. According to the MeT official, the minimum temperature was 1.0°C lower than usual for Kashmir’s gateway town. Pahalgam recorded a low of minus 4.8°C, which was 0.2°C above average for the well-known south Kashmir resort, compared to minus 5.8°C the night before.According to the official, Kokernag, located in south Kashmir, saw a minimum temperature of minus 2.4°C, down from minus 3.0°C the night before. The temperature was 0.3°C below average for the area. According to the official, Kupwara town in north Kashmir saw a low of minus 3.4°C, down from minus 4.0°C the night before. This was 1.4°C below average. According to the official, Gulmarg saw a low of minus 1.0°C, down from minus 3.0°C the night before, and the temperature was 5.8°C higher than usual for the well-known north Kashmiri skiing resort. According to him, Jammu recorded a minimum temperature of 8.5°C, which was 0.3°C below normal for the winter capital of J&K, compared to 7.3°C the night before. According to him, Banihal recorded 3.8°C, Batote 6.3°C, and Bhaderwah 3.5°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. “Generally cloudy weather with possibility of light snow over isolated higher reaches” is what MeT has forecast for the next twenty-four hours. The weather for December 24–26 is predicted to be mainly dry. On December 27, mostly cloudy conditions are predicted with the chance of light snowfall over a few isolated higher regions. Generally speaking, December 28–31 is going to be dry. “Overall there is no significant weather activity till December ending” .
