With cold mornings, sub-zero temperatures winters consolidate in J-K, Ladakh

Srinagar, Nov 27: Mercury took a dip in Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh Wednesday, with frosty mornings and sub-zero temperatures, weather forecaster said.

"The chill only made me reluctant to leave my bed today morning," said 27-year-old Graphic Designer Mansha Ameen.

While fog enveloped Srinagar during early hours, snow-clad mountains encompassing the valley were radiant.

As per an independent weather forecaster, south Kashmir's Shopian recorded -4.6°C, closely followed by Pahalgam (-4.4°C) and Larnoo (-3.9°C), also in south Kashmir.

The famous hill station of Gulmarg recorded -2.6°C. Srinagar experienced a freezing -0.6°C, while Kokernag had the highest minimum temperature in the valley at 0.4°C.

Moving south of the union territory, Jammu region witnessed mixed temperatures.

Padder recorded the region's lowest temperature at -5.8°C, while Ramban stood out as the warmest at a comfortable 11.8°C. Jammu city itself dipped to 10.1°C.

However, the mountain towns like Batote (5.6°C) and Bhaderwah (1.6°C) hinted at the region’s gradual transition into peak winter.

The coldest temperatures of the day were recorded in Ladakh, a separate union territory, where Drass, often hailed as the second-coldest inhabited place on Earth, plunged to a spine-numbing -11.2°C. Leh and Kargil weren't far behind, registering -8.6°C and -6.8°C, respectively.

Minimarg (Zojila) recorded a night temperature of minus 15°C, said the private weather forecaster.

As the season progresses, and the 40-days of harsh winters locally called 'Chillai Kalan' approaching, the cold is expected to intensify, especially in Ladakh and Kashmir, while the Jammu plains may continue to offer some relief.