Chill deepens in Kashmir | MeT predicts extended cold spell

Srinagar, Dec 17: While the Meteorological Department (MeT) Sunday predicted a further drop in mercury, the cold wave on Sunday intensified, a day after snowfall over the higher reaches of Kashmir.

The MeT predicted dry weather conditions till December 23. “From December 24 to 26, the weather is predicted to stay mostly cloudy with the possibility of light snowfall over a few isolated higher reaches,”

officials said. “Overall, there is no significant weather activity till December 26. There will be further fall in minimum temperatures by 2 to 4 degrees Celsius from December 18 onwards,” the MeT officials said.

A fresh spell of snowfall blanketed several areas of Kashmir, including the ski resort of Gulmarg on Saturday.

The temperature in Kashmir dropped due to the weather shift and the Gulmarg area remained covered with snow.

On Saturday, fresh snowfall was experienced in Gulmarg, Karnah, Machil, Gurez, and almost all upper reaches of Kupwara.

There have also been reports of light rains in some plains of Kashmir.

However, the minimum temperature increased throughout Kashmir with tourist destination Pahalgam being the coldest at minus 5.1 degrees Celsius.

The MeT officials here said that all the stations have reported sub-zero temperatures, with Srinagar experiencing minus 1.3 degrees Celsius.

They said a low of minus 3.8 degrees Celsius was also recorded at Qazigund, the gateway to Kashmir while a low of minus 2.8 degrees Celsius had been recorded at Gulmarg ski resort.

The MeT officials said that Kokernag recorded a minimum temperature of minus 3.6 degrees Celsius while Kupwara in north Kashmir recorded a temperature of minus 1 degree Celsius.

Officials said Shopian in south Kashmir recorded minus 6.5 degrees Celsius.