Srinagar: With 40-day Chillai Kalan (harsh winter period) on its last legs, Kashmir continues to shiver in a cold wave. With no respite in icy cold winds and freezing temperatures, Srinagar recorded a low of minus 7.2 degree Celsius, the weatherman said on Saturday.
The minimum temperature also remained far below the normal in other parts of the Valley, a meteorological department official added.
But much to the respite of people, the meteorological department has forecasted cloudy weather next week with the possibility of light snowfall at isolated places of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh.
“Light to moderate snow and rain will occur most likely at scattered places of J-K and Ladakh mainly during 2-3rd February,” the MeT official added. So far this season there have been already at least two spells of considerable snowfall.
This winter, the minimum temperatures have consistently remained far below normal as the mercury continued to plummet and hover in minus. Srinagar witnessed the season’s coldest night on January 14, at minus 8.4 degrees celsius, breaking more than a two-decade record. Previously, in 1991, Srinagar witnessed a low of minus 11.8 degrees celsius while the lowest ever temperature was recorded on January 31, 1893 when the mercury had plummeted to minus 14.4 degrees Celsius.
The mercury settled at minus 12.5 degree celsius in Pahalgam against minus 12 degree celsius on the previous night. Qazigund, the gateway town of J-K, recorded a low of minus 8.8 degree celsius against minus 10.8 degree celsius on the previous night while Kokernag recorded a minimum of minus 10.9 degree celsius against minus 11.4 degree celsius on the earlier night. Gulmarg recorded a low of minus 10.0 degree celsius against minus 11.5 degree celsius earlier night, the official said. The mercury settled at minus 3.7 degree celsius in the in Kupwara against minus 3.0 degree celsius on the previous night, the official said.
