Slight respite from cold wave in south Kashmir as night temperatures improve

Shopian, Dec 2: Parts of south Kashmir saw a modest break from the intense cold wave over the past 48 hours, with night temperatures improving slightly after a week of severe sub-zero conditions that forced people indoors and disrupted daily life.

On Tuesday, Shopian recorded a minimum of –5°C, while Pulwama and Anantnag registered –3.8°C and –3.7°C, respectively. Last week, these districts had plunged to –6°C to –6.5°C, among the harshest early-winter temperatures witnessed in recent years.

Though still well below freezing, the marginal rise has brought some relief to residents struggling with frost-covered mornings, frozen water pipes and bitter winds.

“We were shivering last week. Even stepping outside after sunset felt unbearable,” said Mubashir Ahmad Bhat, a fruit grower and social activist from Chitragam, Shopian. “This small improvement feels good, but the cold is still intense. Our homes still run on traditional bukharis, so we feel every degree,” he said, blowing into his hands for warmth.

Meteorologists attribute the slight improvement to overcast skies and fresh snowfall over the higher reaches on Monday, which trapped some surface warmth and eased the radiational cooling that had intensified night temperatures last week. A thin layer of fresh snow also blanketed the Minimarg area near Zojila Pass along the Srinagar–Kargil highway.

A senior official at the Meteorological Department said another cloudy spell is expected mid-week, which may keep temperatures from dipping sharply.

While temperatures have eased marginally, the prolonged dry spell across south Kashmir remains a growing concern for residents, farmers and orchardists. With no major precipitation expected in the coming days, fears are rising over the long-term impact on water availability, hydropower generation and the region’s agriculture and horticulture sectors.

“We are worried. There should have been good snowfall by now. If this continues, irrigation and drinking water shortages could worsen in summer,” said Abdul Rashid, an orchardist from Pulwama. “Apples and saffron depend on winter moisture. Without snow, trees don’t get the chilling hours they need,” he added.

Rashid said hydropower generation and local water resources are already being affected by the extended dryness.

Residents say the persistent dry, freezing conditions are also complicating daily routines. Thick layers of frost form on rooftops, vehicles and roads every morning, making travel difficult. Many households report frozen pipelines, forcing people to fetch water in buckets from nearby streams.

“We are already facing water issues. We are praying for snow; it is crucial for our survival,” said Syed Gulzar Ahmad, a resident of Anantnag, adding that an extended dry spell could have serious implications for everyday life across the region.

Despite the slight relief in temperatures, residents and meteorologists agree that the real concern now is the absence of snowfall at a time when the region depends on it the most.