SRINAGAR: Snow is continuing to fall in Kashmir Valley including Srinagar and hilly areas of Jammu region on Saturday morning, officials said. Also minimum temperature recorded a drop across J&K with Gulmarg recording a low of minus 8.3°C.
“Widespread light to moderate snowfall and rain was expected in Kashmir and hilly areas of Jammu with chances of heavy snowfall over higher reaches during next 24 hours,” news agency GNS quoted a meteorological department official as having GNS. The snow started this morning and when this report was filed, it was continuing.
Meanwhile, he said, Srinagar recorded a low of 0.5°C against 0.7°C on the previous night. Today’s minimum temperature, he said, was above normal by 0.3°C for the summer capital.
Qazigund, he said, recorded a low of 0.0°C against 1.8°C on the previous night and it was 1.0°C above normal for the gateway town of Kashmir.
Pahalgam, he said, recorded a low of minus 2.4°C against minus 0.3°C on the previous night and it was 2.6°C above normal for the famous tourist resort in south Kashmir’s Anantnag district.
Kokernag recorded a low of minus 0.6°C against minus 0.6°C on the previous night and it was 0.4°C below normal for the place, the officials said.
Gulmarg recorded a low of minus 8.3°C against minus 4.0°C on the previous night and it was 2.1°C below normal for the world famous skiing resort in north Kashmir’s Baramulla district, he said.
In Kupwara town, he said, the mercury settled at minus 1.0°C against minus 0.5°C on the previous night and it was 0.2°C above normal for the north Kashmir area.
Jammu recorded a low of 9.5°C against 12.8°C on the previous night. It was 0.6°C below normal for J&K’s winter capital, he said.
Banihal, he said, recorded a low of 1.8°C (above normal by 0.6°C), Batote 2.4°C (below normal by 0.2°C), Katra 8.8°C (0.7°C above normal) and Bhadarwah 1.1°C (0.9°C above normal).
Ladakh’s Leh and Kargil recorded a low of minus 10.4°C and minus 6.7°C respectively, the official said.
While Chillai-Kalan, the 40-day long harsh winter period that started on December 21 has ended, Kashmir is under the grip of a 20-day-long period called ‘Chillai-Khurd’. It will be followed by a 10-day-long period ‘Chillai-Bachha’ (baby cold) which is from February 20 to March 1.
