SRINAGAR: Although the minimum temperature increased slightly, the extremely cold weather persisted in Jammu and Kashmir, with Srinagar recording a low of minus 3.0°C on Friday. Although the previous night’s minimum temperature in Srinagar was recorded at minus 3.8°C, an official from the meteorological department stated that the current temperature of minus 3.0°C was 0.9°C below average for this time of year in the summer capital of J&K. According to him, Qazigund recorded a minimum temperature of minus 3.0°C as opposed to minus 3.4°C the night before. According to the MeT official, the minimum temperature was 0.1°C lower than usual for Kashmir’s gateway town. Pahalgam saw a low of minus 4.5°C, down from minus 5.1°C the night before. This was 2.1°C above average for the well-known south Kashmiri resort.According to the official, Kokernag, which is located in south Kashmir, saw a minimum temperature of minus 2.0°C as opposed to minus 2.4°C the night before. The temperature was also 1.5°C higher than usual for the area. According to the official, Kupwara town in north Kashmir saw a low of minus 2.6°C, down from minus 3.9°C the night before. This was 0.1°C below average. According to the official, Gulmarg recorded a low of minus 3.5°C, down from minus 4.2°C the night before. The temperature was also 3.5°C higher than usual for the well-known north Kashmiri skiing resort. According to him, Jammu recorded a minimum temperature of 5.1°C, which was 2.2°C below normal for the winter capital of J&K, compared to 4.7°C the night before. According to him, the lows at Banihal (minus 0.4°C), Batote (3.0°C), and Bhaderwah (0.2°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. According to the weatherman, the next day or two could bring “very light” snow to “isolated extreme higher reaches” and generally cloudy and dry weather over plains. He stated that mostly dry weather is anticipated from January 6-7. On January 8, he said, mostly cloudy weather is predicted with the chance of light rain or snow in a few isolated higher reaches. He stated that generally dry weather is anticipated from January 9–10.
