Deep freeze grips Kashmir

Srinagar, Dec 14: The minimum temperature in Srinagar was recorded at minus 5.3 degrees Celsius on Wednesday, which was the coldest night of this season so far in Srinagar.

At the same time, this time even before Chila-e-Kalan, other water sources besides the Dal Lake started freezing and the rest of the Valley too reeled under an intense cold wave.

The Meteorological Department (MeT) has predicted mainly dry and cold weather in J&K till December 24.

“During the next 24 hours, mainly dry weather has been forecast while on December 16 generally cloudy weather with the possibility of a brief spell of light snow over extreme higher reaches is a possibility,” they said. “From December 17 to 24, there will be mainly dry weather. Overall, dry and cold weather is most likely to continue till December 24 over most places of J&K.”

The MeT officials said that the mercury decreased by 0.1 degree Celsius and settled at minus 5.3 degrees Celsius in Srinagar, 4.4 degrees Celsius below normal for this time of the year in Srinagar – thus the coldest night of this season so far.

They said Gulmarg ski resort in north Kashmir’s Baramulla district recorded a low of minus 5 degrees Celsius against minus 5.5 degrees Celsius the previous night and 0.8 degrees Celsius below normal.
The MeT officials said that Pahalgam health resort in south Kashmir’s Anantnag district recorded a low of minus 5.8 degrees Celsius against minus 5.3 degrees Celsius the previous night and it was 2 degrees
Celsius below normal at the health resort in south Kashmir.

They said Kokernag recorded a minimum of minus 1.6 degrees Celsius against minus 2.1 degrees Celsius the previous night and the temperature was below normal by 0.5 degrees Celsius for the place.
The MeT officials said that Qazigund, the gateway town of Kashmir recorded a minimum of minus 3.8 degrees Celsius against minus 3.2 degrees Celsius the previous night and 2.7 degrees Celsius below normal for the area.

They said Kupwara town in north Kashmir recorded a low of minus 4.2 degrees Celsius against minus 3.7 degrees Celsius the previous night and it was 2.5 degrees Celsius below normal.
The MeT officials said Jammu recorded a minimum of 6.7 degrees Celsius against 7.3 degrees Celsius the previous night and it was below normal by 2.5 degrees Celsius while Banihal recorded 1.7 degrees Celsius, Batote 3.7 degrees Celsius, and Bhaderwah minus 0.2 degrees Celsius.