SRINAGAR: The mercury dropped once further in the Kashmir Valley on Wednesday, with a low of minus 5.0°C recorded in Srinagar. According to a representative of the meteorological department, the temperature was 3.1°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 2.4°C. According to him, Qazigund recorded a minimum temperature of – 4.4°C as opposed to minus 2.6°C the night before. According to the MeT official, the minimum temperature was 1.3°C lower than usual for Kashmir’s gateway town.In contrast to the previous night’s low of minus 4.4°C, Pahalgam recorded a low of minus 6.3°C, which was 0.7°C above average for the well-known south Kashmir resort. According to the official, Kokernag, located in south Kashmir, saw a minimum temperature of minus 2.4°C, compared to minus 1.2°C the night before. The temperature was also 1.6°C higher than usual for the area. According to the official, Kupwara town in north Kashmir saw a low of minus 4.7°C, down from minus 4.5°C the night before. It was 2.0°C below normal there. According to the official, Gulmarg saw a low of minus 5.0°C, down from minus 4.6°C the night before. The temperature was also 2.6°C higher than usual for the well-known north Kashmiri skiing resort. He claimed that Jammu recorded a minimum temperature of 4.8°C, which was 2.6°C below usual for the winter capital of J&K and 5.1°C the night before. He added that the lows in Banihal (zero 1.4°C), Batote (minus 2.2°C), and Bhaderwah (minus 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 MeT official, relatively dry weather is predicted for January 10–16. “Overall no significant weather activity is expected till January 15.”
