At -32 °C, Zojila records season’s lowest temperature

Srinagar, Jan 11: While Zojila in Ladakh shivered at minus 32 degrees Celsius , cold weather continued to prevail across Kashmir as temperatures dipped below freezing during the intervening night of Friday and Saturday even as Meteorological Department has forecast light snow at isolated higher altitudes till Sunday ( January 12).

Temperatures across Kashmir remained well below normal during the night. In the Kashmir Division, Srinagar recorded a minimum temperature of minus 3.6 degrees Celsius , which was 1.7 degrees Celsius  below normal for this time of year.

The Zojila Pass, connecting Kashmir Valley to Ladakh, witnessed bone-chilling temperatures of minus 32 degrees Celsius, marking it as one of the coldest spots in Ladakh. The ski-resort of Gulmarg recorded a low of minus 6.5 degrees Celsius, while the popular tourist destinations of Pahalgam and Qazigund in South Kashmir clocked temperatures of minus 7.6 degrees Celsius  and minus 6.5 degrees Celsius, respectively. Other areas in the region experienced similar freezing conditions. Automated Weather Stations (AWS) reported minus 3.6 degrees Celsius in Budgam, minus 2.6 degrees Celsius in Baramulla, and minus 5.1 degrees Celsius in Pulwama. In South Kashmir, Shopian and Kulgam recorded lows of minus 8 degrees Celsius and  minus 6.6 degrees Celsius, respectively. In contrast, the Jammu Division experienced relatively milder conditions. Jammu city recorded a normal low of 7.1 degrees Celsius, while Banihal recorded a low of 0.2 degrees Celsius, Bhaderwah dipped to -0.6 degrees Celsius, and Katra experienced 6.1degrees Celsius.

Kashmir is currently in the midst of the “Chillai-Kalan,” the harshest phase of winter, which began on December 21. This 40-day period is characterized by extremely cold temperatures, heavy snowfall, and the most intense winter conditions of the season. The Chillai-Kalan is expected to end on January 30.

Ladakh continues to experience some of the most severe cold, with Drass—the coldest place—recording a bone-chilling -22.7 degrees Celsius. The districts of Leh and Kargil also saw temperatures of -12.5 degrees Celsius and -14.5 degrees Celsius, respectively. Weather is expected to remain generally dry between January 12-14, with the possibility of light snow at higher altitudes on January 15 and 16, said Meteorological Department.