Kashmir’s chilly grip eases slightly

Srinagar, Dec 30: Kashmir experienced a slight improvement in night temperatures and visibility, despite the persistence of below-freezing conditions, Meteorological Department (MeT) officials said on Saturday.

Over the past five days, dense fog enveloped parts of Kashmir including Srinagar, but a marginal improvement in visibility was noted at most of the place on Saturday.

The MeT officials said that the weather is anticipated to remain cloudy and dry, with moderate to dense fog prevailing over the plains of Kashmir and Jammu division until December 31.

This is attributed to an approaching feeble Western Disturbance.

They said that the fog is expected to persist until January 4 due to the absence of any significant wet spell.

Kashmir's severe 40-day winter period, known as ‘Chillai Kalan’ commenced last week, with temperatures dipping below freezing at various locations.

The minimum temperature in Srinagar was recorded at minus 2.8 degrees Celsius, a slight increase of 0.5 notches from the previous night’s temperature of minus 3.3 degrees Celsius.

In north Kashmir’s Gulmarg resort, the minimum temperature remained constant at minus 2.5 degrees Celsius, while in the frontier town of Kupwara, it was minus 2.3 degrees Celsius. The Konibal area on the outskirts of Srinagar and the Pahalgam tourist resort reported minimum temperatures of minus 4.5 degrees Celsius and minus 2 degrees Celsius with Pahalgam showing an improvement of over 3 degrees Celsius from the previous night.

The southern gateway town of Qazigund recorded a low temperature of minus 2.2 degrees Celsius.

The MeT has forecast light snow at isolated higher reaches on January 4.