SRINAGAR: The regions of Jammu, Kashmir, and Ladakh remain firmly in the grip of winter as temperatures continue to plummet, bringing severe cold to both plains and high-altitude areas. Across the Kashmir Valley, the freeze was widespread, with most districts recording sub-zero temperatures.
Srinagar, the summer capital, recorded a minimum temperature of -0.2°C, while Qazigund was slightly colder at -0.4°C. Popular tourist destinations such as Pahalgam and Gulmarg shivered at -8.0°C and -8.5°C, respectively. Sonamarg experienced an even harsher chill at -10.8°C. The Zojila Pass registered the region’s lowest temperature of -26.0°C, underscoring the severity of the cold. Other locations, including Shopian at -2.3°C and Kulgam at -2.1°C, also witnessed freezing weather.
The Jammu region experienced comparatively milder conditions, though colder areas such as Bhaderwah and Padder reported minimum temperatures of -5.0°C and -7.9°C, respectively. Jammu city, the winter capital, recorded a relatively comfortable 6.1°C, while Katra, the base camp for the Vaishno Devi pilgrimage, logged a low of 5.0°C. Hill towns like Banihal and Batote recorded minimum temperatures of 0.8°C and -2.0°C, reflecting the contrasting winter intensity across the region.
In Ladakh, the chill was even more severe. Leh recorded a low of -11.6°C, and Kargil was not far behind at -10.2°C. Drass, often regarded as one of the world’s coldest inhabited locations, recorded a frigid -20.7°C.
The Meteorological Centre in Srinagar has predicted two Western Disturbances (WDs) to affect Jammu and Kashmir and neighbouring areas from January 1 onwards. According to an official, the weather is expected to remain dry from December 29 to 31, with cold wave conditions persisting at isolated locations during this period. The first WD, a feeble system, is likely to bring generally cloudy skies with light snow at scattered places from the evening of January 1 to the morning of January 2. A more moderate intensity WD is expected between January 3 and 6, likely causing cloudy weather with light to moderate snowfall in many areas of the Kashmir division and scattered places in the Jammu division.
