Kashmir shivers as mercury drops below freezing point

Srinagar, Nov 20: Kashmir woke up to an early morning foggy and cold weather conditions as the minimum temperature in the Valley dropped below the freezing point at several places including the Srinagar city.

The Meteorological Department officials here said that Srinagar recorded a fall of nearly 2 degrees Celsius, recording a low of minus 0.8 degrees Celsius against 0.9 degrees Celsius the previous night.

They said that the temperature was 1 degree Celsius below normal for this time of the year for the city.

Fog engulfed most parts of the city on Monday morning, giving a tough time to the commuters.

The thick fog subsequently resulted in reduction in visibility.

The MeT officials said that the Gulmarg ski resort in Baramulla district recorded a minimum of minus 1.2 degrees Celsius and it was normal at the resort.

They said that the Pahalgam health resort in Anantnag recorded a low of minus 2.6 degrees Celsius, below 1 degree Celsius than normal.

The officials said Kokernag in the same district recorded a minimum of 1.2 degrees Celsius which was normal for the place.

The MeT officials said Qazigund recorded a minimum of 0.4 degrees Celsius.

The minimum temperature was minus 1 degree Celsius below normal for the place.

They said Kupwara town in north Kashmir recorded a low of minus 0.8 degrees Celsius which was 1 degree Celsius below normal.

The MeT officials said that south Kashmir’s Shopian district was the coldest recorded place in the Valley as the mercury settled at minus 3.8 degrees Celsius last night.

“Till November 26, the weather will be generally dry with occasional cloudiness on November 25,” the MeT officials said. “Overall no significant weather activity is expected till November 26. There is going to be shallow fog with mist during morning and evening hours.”

With a sharp dip in temperatures across Kashmir, the markets are witnessing a rush of people buying woollen clothes.