Kashmir freezes as Chillai Kalan tightens its grip
Srinagar, Jan 20: Chillai Kalan bared its teeth across Kashmir on Tuesday night as temperatures dipped sharply, plunging the Valley into a deeper and more biting cold. Several places recorded colder nights than the previous day, even as meteorologists forecast a fresh spell of snowfall from January 22.
Srinagar city recorded a minimum temperature of minus 3.4 degrees Celsius on Tuesday, down from minus 1.2 degrees Celsius on Monday—marking a drop of over two degrees overnight. The temperature at Srinagar airport also declined to minus 4.4 degrees Celsius from minus 3.8 degrees Celsius a day earlier.
South Kashmir witnessed a pronounced dip in temperatures. Pahalgam recorded minus 4.0 degrees Celsius on Tuesday, compared to minus 1.8 degrees Celsius on Monday. Awantipora shivered at minus 4.8 degrees Celsius, down from minus 4.2 degrees Celsius, while Anantnag slipped to minus 4.5 degrees Celsius from minus 3.9 degrees Celsius.
Pulwama and Shopian, key apple-growing districts, remained among the coldest places in the Valley. Pulwama recorded a low of minus 5.5 degrees Celsius on Tuesday, slightly colder than Monday’s minus 5.1 degrees Celsius, while Shopian settled at minus 4.8 degrees Celsius, marginally lower than the previous day’s minus 4.7 degrees Celsius.
In north Kashmir, temperatures showed mixed trends. Kupwara recorded minus 1.2 degrees Celsius on Tuesday, an improvement from minus 1.6 degrees Celsius on Monday, while Baramulla recorded minus 2.1 degrees Celsius compared to minus 1.4 degrees Celsius a day earlier. Bandipora saw a sharp fall to minus 2.9 degrees Celsius from around minus 1.4 degrees Celsius, and Ganderbal settled at minus 2.2 degrees Celsius, down from minus 0.7 degrees Celsius on Monday.
Some areas recorded relatively higher night temperatures. Kokernag in south Kashmir rose to 0.6 degrees Celsius on Tuesday from minus 0.4 degrees Celsius a day earlier, while Kulgam recorded 1.5 degrees Celsius.
The ski resort of Gulmarg witnessed a steep fall, with temperatures plunging to minus 5.5 degrees Celsius on Tuesday from minus 3.5 degrees Celsius on Monday. Sonamarg recorded a minimum of minus 6.2 degrees Celsius, slightly warmer than Monday’s minus 8.3 degrees Celsius.
In the Jammu region, minimum temperatures remained largely stable. Jammu city recorded 7.4 degrees Celsius on Tuesday, marginally higher than 7.3 degrees Celsius on Monday.
Ladakh continued to reel under severe cold, with Leh recording a minimum temperature of minus 9.0 degrees Celsius on Tuesday, down from minus 8.0 degrees Celsius the previous night.
Meanwhile, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) has forecast the influence of multiple Western Disturbances over Jammu and Kashmir later this week. Officials said a strong system is likely to affect the region from January 22 to 24, followed by a moderate disturbance between January 26 and 28.
These weather systems are expected to bring widespread light to moderate rain and snowfall across the Union Territory, with isolated areas—particularly the Pir Panjal range, the Chenab Valley and higher reaches of south Kashmir—likely to receive heavy precipitation. The IMD has cautioned that the spell may disrupt road and air connectivity, including traffic on the Srinagar–Jammu National Highway.
