Weatherman on Thursday forecast widespread snow and rain spell of “moderate intensity” from 4 to 6 January in J-K and Ladakh.
“As of now, widespread snow/rain spell of moderate intensity is most likely during 4-6th January in both J-k and Ladakh,” an official of the meteorological department said. He said further fall in minimum temperature is expected till 2 January.
Barring Gulmarg, the temperature across Kashmir Valley dropped today with Srinagar recording a low of minus 4.0°C.
The official told GNS that the minimum temperature in Srinagar, the summer capital of J&K, recorded a drop of 1.7°C than the previous night and was below minus 1.9°C below normal for this time of the year.
Kashmir is presently under the grip of 40-day long harshest period of winter, known locally as ‘Chillai Kalan, which started from December 21. It is followed by a 20-day long ‘Chillai Khurd’ and a 10-day-long ‘Chilla Bachha’.
The mercury settled at the world famous resort of Gulmarg at minus 9.6°C against minus 10.4°C on the previous night.
Qazigund, the gateway town of Kashmir, had a low of minus 4.2°C against 0.6°C on the previous night, he said.
Pahalgam, the famous resort in south Kashmir, recorded a low of minus 8.9°C against minus 6.6°C on previous night, he said.
Kokernag, also in south Kashmir, recorded a low of minus 3.6°C against minus 0.4°C on previous night, the official said.
Kupwara town in north Kashmir recorded a minimum of minus 4.4°C against minus 3.2°C on the previous night, the official said.
Jammu, the J-K’s winter capital, saw a rise temperature by 9 notches from the precious night, recording a low of 5.9°C which is minus 1.5°C below normal for the place during this time of the year, he said.
Ladakh’s Leh had a low of minus 16.0°C against last night’s minus 14.7°C while automatic Kargil station recorded a minimum of minus 14.2°C. Drass in Kargil, the second coldest place in the world after Siberia, recorded a low of minus 21.9°C, the official said.
