Gulmarg coldest at minus 8.8°C, Min temps to drop 2–3°C below normal till Jan 10; MeT says light snowfall likely over higher reaches
Sajid Raina
Srinagar, Jan 05 :
Sub-zero night temperatures continued across most parts of Kashmir, while Ladakh recorded severe cold conditions, according to data released on Monday.
According to details obtained by the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), Srinagar recorded a minimum temperature of minus 3.6 degrees Celsius, while the city’s airport also registered the same temperature. Qazigund recorded a low of minus 2.0 degrees Celsius, Pahalgam minus 4.8 degrees, and Kupwara minus 1.8 degrees.
Gulmarg, the ski resort town in north Kashmir, was the coldest place in the Valley at minus 8.8 degrees Celsius. Kokernag recorded a minimum of minus 1.2 degrees, Pampore minus 2.5 degrees, Awantipora minus 3.2 degrees, Budgam minus 3.5 degrees, and Anantnag minus 3.2 degrees.
Other areas recorded similar conditions, with Pulwama at minus 4.2 degrees, Shopian at minus 5.6 degrees, Baramulla at minus 0.7 degrees, Bandipora at minus 1.3 degrees, and Zethan Rafiabad at minus 3.5 degrees Celsius.
In the Jammu region, Jammu city recorded a minimum temperature of 8.7 degrees Celsius, while Jammu Airport recorded 11.1 degrees. Banihal recorded a low of minus 1.3 degrees, Batote 2.1 degrees, Katra 5.6 degrees, and Bhaderwah minus 2.1 degrees.
Kathua recorded a minimum of 8.4 degrees, Udhampur 6.0 degrees, Ramban 2.7 degrees, Rajouri 1.6 degrees, Kishtwar 2.3 degrees, Reasi 8.3 degrees, and Doda 2.7 degrees.
Ladakh continued to experience colder conditions, with Leh recording a minimum temperature of minus 9.6 degrees Celsius, Kargil minus 8.4 degrees, and Nubra Valley minus 7.5 degrees.
According to the weather advisory, there is a possibility of light snowfall over isolated higher reaches of north and central Kashmir on January 5 and 6.
From January 7 to January 18, the weather is expected to remain partly cloudy, while January 19 and 20 are likely to witness generally cloudy conditions.
The advisory further said that minimum temperatures are expected to fall by 2 to 3 degrees Celsius below normal levels till January 10. Thereafter, temperatures are likely to rise gradually by 1 to 2 degrees Celsius—(KNO)