SRINAGAR: There was a slight respite from cold wave conditions in Kashmir as the minimum temperature rose marginally across several places in the Valley.

A view of River Sindh in Ganderbal on Wednesday, December 22, 2021. KL Image by Bilal Bahadur

The rise has been recorded at a time when Kashmir Valley is under the grip of ‘Chillai Kalan’—the harshest period of winter known for its frequent occurrence of snow and nail-biting cold.

An official from the MeT Department said that due to western disturbance, weather is most likely to remain generally cloudy in both J&K and Ladakh with chances of light snowfall at scattered places of Kashmir (over higher reaches, not plains) Kargil district (Zojila-Drass, Parkachik- Penzila) and over hilly areas of Jammu region during December 23 and December 24.”

“A snow spell of greater intensity is most likely during December 26 (Evening) to December 28 (Forenoon) with Main Activity on December 27,” said an official.

Srinagar, the summer capital of Jammu and Kashmir, registered a low of minus 1.8 degrees Celsius compared to minus 2.8 degree Celsius the previous night, an official of the MeT Department here said.

He said there was an improvement in night temperature in the south Kashmir’s Qazigund and Kokernag as they recorded a minimum of minus 3.0 degree Celsius and minus 1.9 degree Celsius, respectively.

The ski-resort of Gulmarg in north Kashmir, a star attraction for tourists visiting the Valley during winter, recorded a low of minus 4.0 degrees Celsius — an increase from the previous night’s minus 5.0 degrees Celsius, the official said.

Kupwara town in north Kashmir, which had witnessed a low of minus 3.8 degrees Celsius the previous night, registered a minimum of minus 2.9 degrees Celsius, the official said.

He said the hill resort of Pahalgam which serves as the base camp for the annual Amarnath yatra during summer was the coldest place in the valley recorded a low of minus 5.2 degrees Celsius.

The resort had recorded a low of minus 3.7 degrees Celsius on the previous night, the official said.

Jammu city had 6.8 degrees Celsius, Katra 7.7, Batote 3.7, Banihal 3.6 and Bhaderwah 2.2 as the night’s lowest temperature.

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