Night chill softens with cloudy skies, snowfall in higher reaches

Srinagar, Dec 14: Several places in the higher reaches of Kashmir experienced overnight snowfall, while cloud cover across the Valley pushed minimum temperatures above the freezing point for the first time this month, officials said on Sunday.

Snowfall was reported at Zojila Pass, Minamarg, and Baltal along the Srinagar-Drass axis in Ganderbal district, as well as in the Tulail area of the Gurez Valley in Bandipora district.

Due to nightlong cloud cover, minimum temperatures improved across Kashmir, rising above freezing in most places, even as maximum temperatures dipped slightly, officials of the Meteorological Department (MeT) said.

Srinagar, the summer capital of Jammu and Kashmir, recorded a minimum temperature of 2 degrees Celsius, a sharp rise from minus 2.9 degrees Celsius recorded on Friday night.

The minimum temperature was about 3.2 degrees Celsius above the seasonal average.

Pulwama was the coldest place in Kashmir, registering a low of minus 2.7 degrees Celsius, making it the only location where the temperature dipped below the freezing point.

Qazigund and Kokernag in south Kashmir recorded minimum temperatures of 0.8 degrees Celsius each, while Kupwara in north Kashmir settled at 1.2 degrees Celsius.

Tourist resorts Gulmarg and Pahalgam recorded minimum temperatures of 1.4 degrees Celsius and 2.4 degrees Celsius. Early in the morning, a thick layer of fog enveloped Srinagar and most parts of Kashmir.

Shallow to moderate fog is likely to continue at many places in the Kashmir division and isolated places in Jammu, the MeT said.

However, maximum temperatures declined slightly, with Srinagar recording a high of 7.7 degrees Celsius, while Gulmarg and Pahalgam recorded 7.2 degrees and 9 degrees Celsius. In the Jammu region, minimum temperatures were recorded at 11.4 degrees Celsius in Jammu city, 11.2 degrees Celsius in Katra, 7.9 degrees Celsius in Batote, 5.5 degrees Celsius in Banihal, and 4.7 degrees Celsius in Bhaderwah.

The MeT said there is no likelihood of snowfall in the plains over the coming days, though isolated light snowfall could occur in higher reaches.

The forecast does not indicate any major weather system over the next 10 days, raising concerns that December may pass without significant snowfall.

Kashmir has been experiencing an extended dry spell of over two months, resulting in sharply reduced water levels in rivers, streams, lakes, and springs.

The Jhelum River, which flows through the heart of Kashmir, has almost reached its lowest level.

The 40-day period of harsh winter known as ‘Chillai Kalan’ begins on December 21 and lasts until January 30.

Traditionally, heavy snowfall during this period replenishes water reservoirs in the mountains, sustaining water bodies during the summer months.

A lack of snowfall during ‘Chillai Kalan’ is widely seen as a precursor to summer drought.

The prolonged dry cold has also triggered an increase in respiratory ailments, with many residents complaining of flu and dry cough across Jammu and Kashmir.