Sub-zero nights, dry days persist ahead of Chilai-e-Kalan

Srinagar, Dec 15: Kashmir Valley continued to shiver under freezing temperatures with all 10 districts recording sub-zero levels.

The prevailing dry weather has intensified the cold, making days and nights harsher.

Popular tourist destinations like Gulmarg, Sonamarg, and Pahalgam have been experiencing especially frigid conditions.

Major towns across Kashmir including Srinagar, Baramulla, Shopian, Pulwama, Anantnag, Budgam, Ganderbal, Kulgam, Kupwara, and Bandipora recorded minimum temperatures between minus 5 degrees Celsius and minus 3 degrees Celsius.

Srinagar registered a low of minus 3.4 degrees Celsius on Saturday night, 2.2 degrees Celsius below the average for this time of the year.

The Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) forecasts that the cold wave will persist until the end of the week, with dry weather expected to dominate.

However, a fresh Western Disturbance (WD) is likely to bring light to moderate snowfall or rainfall in Jammu and Kashmir, Ladakh, and nearby areas on December 16 and 17.

Kashmir saw some respite from the ongoing cold spell earlier this week, as light to moderate snowfall graced areas like Pahalgam, Gulmarg, Sonamarg, and Shopian.

This snowfall broke a prolonged 120-day dry spell.

However, the dry conditions have helped keep major highways including the vital Srinagar-Jammu route open.

According to the Traffic Police, Traffic on the Srinagar-Jammu National Highway is moving smoothly in both directions.

The travellers have been urged to maintain lane discipline to avoid congestion.

Officials have advised passengers to undertake their journeys during the daytime and avoid between Ramban and Banihal due to potential landslides and shooting stones.

The Bhaderwah-Chamba road in the Doda district is also operational, while traffic on the Mughal Road, Sinthan Road, and Sonamarg-Kargil Road will resume only after clearance from road maintenance agencies.

On Sunday, Pahalgam recorded a low of minus 4.8 degrees Celsius, an improvement from the previous night’s minus 8.4 degrees Celsius, yet it remains below the seasonal average.

Gulmarg also saw some relief, with temperatures rising to minus 3.8 degrees Celsius from minus 7.6 degrees Celsius the previous night.

The frontier district of Kupwara registered minus 1.3 degrees Celsius while Kokernag recorded a low of minus 2.8 degrees Celsius, 1.3 degrees Celsius below normal.

The 40-day harsh winter period, known as Chilai-e-Kalan, is set to begin on December 21, further intensifying the cold.