Cold wave tightens grip across J&K, Ladakh

Srinagar, Dec 8: Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh continued to reel under a severe cold wave on Monday, even as the Meteorological (MeT) Centre Srinagar forecast cloudy weather over the next few days and indicated the possibility of light snowfall in parts of Kashmir from 13 to 15 December.

According to the MeT, the weather will remain partly cloudy on December 8, while generally cloudy conditions are expected on December 9.

From December 10 to 12, no major weather activity is expected, and the sky will remain partly cloudy.

However, a MeT spokesperson said that weather activity was likely to change thereafter, with light snowfall predicted over the higher reaches of north Kashmir and central Kashmir from December 13 to 15.

The weather is expected to turn partly cloudy again on December 16 and remain so till December 18.

Further, from December 19 to 21, J&K is likely to experience mixed weather conditions, with cloudy skies and the possibility of light snowfall over a few higher reaches.

Even before the anticipated snowfall, a biting cold wave gripped most parts of the region.

In Kashmir, Shopian recorded the lowest minimum temperature at minus 4.2 degrees Celsius, followed by Budgam, Pulwama, and Baramulla, each at minus 3.1 degrees Celsius.

Srinagar settled at minus 2.4 degrees Celsius, while the airport area saw a sharper chill at minus 3.2 degrees Celsius.

Tourist destinations also shivered under freezing conditions, with Gulmarg at minus 2.5 degrees Celsius and Sonamarg at minus 2.8 degrees Celsius.

Qazigund and Kupwara registered minus 1.2 degrees Celsius, Pampore minus 2 degrees Celsius, Bandipora minus 2.2 degrees Celsius, and Awantipora and Anantnag minus 1.4 degrees Celsius each.

Kokernag, at 0.1 degrees Celsius, remained the only major south Kashmir station above freezing, while Kulgam was slightly milder at 0.8 degrees Celsius.

In the Jammu region, cold conditions persisted with Udhampur the coldest at 2 degrees Celsius, followed by Rajouri at 1.8 degrees Celsius and Samba at 2.7 degrees Celsius.

Jammu city recorded 7.9 degrees Celsius, while the airport area settled at 9 degrees Celsius. Katra registered 9.6 degrees Celsius, Kathua 7.8 degrees Celsius, Bhaderwah 2.6 degrees Celsius, Banihal 4.5 degrees Celsius, Batote 5.8 degrees Celsius, Ramban 5.6 degrees Celsius, Reasi 6.5 degrees Celsius, and Doda and Kishtwar 5 degrees Celsius each.

In Ladakh, cold wave conditions were even more intense, with Leh recording minus 6.2 degrees Celsius, Kargil minus 5 degrees Celsius, and the Nubra Valley minus 3.7 degrees Celsius.

Despite the ongoing chill, the MeT has forecast mainly dry weather across J&K and Ladakh over the next 24 hours, ahead of the expected mid-December change in weather patterns.