Srinagar
Cold wave conditions continued in the Kashmir Valley and the Ladakh region on Wednesday as minimum temperatures remained several notches below the freezing point.
The Met department has forecast heavy snowfall for at least five days starting Saturday that is likely to disrupt air and surface traffic to and from the Kashmir Valley.
“A comparatively intense western disturbance is becoming active over Jammu and Kashmir from January 19 and will remain till January 23, peaking on January 22.
“Under its influence moderate to heavy snowfall is likely to occur in the valley during this period,” Sonam Lotus, Director of the Met Department said, even as a fresh spell of snow fell in the region.
He advised people to keep warm, wear snow-worthy footwear, keep edibles and other things handy as the spell was expected to disrupt normal life.
Srinagar, the summer capital of the state recorded a low of minus 2.1 while the mercury in Qazigund in south Kashmir settled at a low of minus 2.9 degrees Celsius.
Gulmarg, the famous skiing resort in north Kashmir, recorded a low of minus 6.0 degrees Celsius.
The night temperature in Pahalgam – the famous health resort which also serves as one of the base camps for the annual Amarnath Yatra – settled at a low of minus 4.2 degrees.
Kokernag town recorded a low of minus 3.0 degrees Celsius while Kupwara town in north Kashmir registered a low of minus 5.6 degrees Celsius last night.
Drass town in the Ladakh region recorded minus 16.2 as the minimum temperature.
Jammu recorded a low of 6.2 degrees Celsius while Batote recorded minus 3.1, Banihal recorded minus 1.6, and Bhaderwah recorded minus 0.6 degree Celsius.
Meanwhile, fresh snowfall has started in Kashmir however weatherman had predicted snow from January 19 till January 23.
