CHILLING DEPTHS | Srinagar records season’s coldest night at -5.6°C, Jammu at 3.4°C

Srinagar, Jan 7: The grip of winter tightened its hold on Kashmir as Srinagar recorded the season’s coldest night with the mercury plummeting to minus 5.6 degrees Celsius.

The freezing conditions show no signs of relenting, plunging Kashmir into an icy chill on Sunday. The Meteorological Department (MeT) officials predicted generally dry weather until January 8, with the possibility of generally cloudy weather and light rain and snow over “extremely isolated higher reaches” on January 9.

From January 10 to 14, generally, dry weather is anticipated, with no significant weather activity expected until January 14.

The MeT officials here said that the temperature dropped by two more notches compared to the previous night in Srinagar, marking a substantial 3.7 degrees Celsius below the normal for this time of the year in the city.

“The minimum temperature of minus 5.6 degrees Celsius in Srinagar surpassed the readings of minus 5.4 degrees Celsius recorded on December 13 last year and January 6 this year, indicating the severity of the current cold wave,” the MeT officials said.

Gulmarg ski resort in north Kashmir recorded a low of minus 4.4 degrees Celsius, down from the previous night's minus 4.5 degrees Celsius.

Despite the drop, the temperature remained 3.4 degrees Celsius above normal for this time of the year.

They said Qazigund recorded a minimum of minus 5 degrees Celsius, slightly lower than the previous night's minus 4.6 degrees Celsius.

Despite this drop, the temperature remained 1.9 degrees Celsius below normal for the area.

Pahalgam health resort in south Kashmir recorded a low of minus 6.5 degrees Celsius compared to the previous night's minus 6.3 degrees Celsius.

The reading was 0.5 degrees Celsius above normal for the tourist destination.

Kokernag, also in south Kashmir, recorded a minimum temperature of minus 2.7 degrees Celsius, showing a marginal improvement from the previous night’s minus 2.9 degrees Celsius.

The temperature at Kokernag was 1.3 degrees Celsius above normal for the region.

Kupwara in north Kashmir recorded a low of minus 5.3 degrees Celsius, slightly lower than the previous night’s minus 5.4 degrees Celsius, with the temperature 2.6 degrees Celsius below normal.

Jammu experienced its coldest night of the season with a minimum temperature of 3.4 degrees Celsius, compared to 4.1 degrees Celsius the previous night.

The temperature was below normal by 4 degrees Celsius.

Other areas in J&K also experienced chilly temperatures, with Banihal recording a low of minus 2.2 degrees Celsius, Batote 2.1 degrees Celsius, and Bhaderwah minus 0.2 degrees Celsius.

Kashmir is currently amid Chillai Kalan, a 40-day harsh winter period that will last until January 29.

Following this, a 20-day-period called Chillai Khurd will occur between January 30 and February 18, followed by Chillai Bachha from February 19 to February 28.