SRINAGAR: The 40-day severe winter period in Kashmir, known as Chillai Kalan, will begin on Thursday, with night temperatures across the Valley dropping several degrees below freezing.
Chillai Kalan is a 40-day period when Kashmir experiences its harshest winter, starting on December 21 and ending on January 31 of the next year. It is followed by a 20-day Chillai-Khurd (small cold) from January 31 to February 19 and a 10-day Chillai-Bachha (baby cold) from February 20 to March 2.
Chillai Kalan is a Persian term meaning “Major Cold.”
A day before the onset of the harshest winter period, temperatures have dropped below freezing at almost all stations across the Valley. Srinagar, the summer capital of Jammu and Kashmir, recorded a chilling Minus 4.4 degrees Celsius.
Pahalgam was the coldest place in Kashmir, with the mercury settling at -6.3 degrees Celsius, while the famous ski resort of Gulmarg recorded a low of -4.4 degrees Celsius.
In Qazigund, the temperature dropped to -4.0 degrees Celsius, while Kupwara and Kokernag recorded lows of -3.5 degrees Celsius and 3.3 degrees Celsius, respectively.
Amidst the bone-chilling cold, the local weatherman predicts dry weather conditions until December 28.
The weather is expected to remain generally dry until December 22, becoming generally cloudy with a possibility of light snow over isolated higher reaches on December 23.
Furthermore, from December 24-28, the weather is expected to stay generally dry, with no significant weather activity predicted until December 28, according to the weatherman.
Moreover, Jammu & Kashmir has generally experienced excess precipitation from October 1, 2023, to December 20, 2023.
However, several areas, including Srinagar, Anantnag, Budgam, Baramulla, Ganderbal, Kulgam, and Pulwama, have received normal precipitation during this period.
Data from the local Meteorological department indicates that twin stations, Kupwara and Bandipora, recorded deficient rainfall, while the Shopian district experienced large deficient rainfall during the same period. (KNO)
