STATE TIMES NEWS
SRINAGAR: Even as the minimum temperature across Kashmir marked a slight increase providing relief to the denizens from bone-chilling cold, no major change in the dry weather has been forecast.
Leh town in frontier region of Ladakh, was the coldest recorded place in the State at a low of minus 14.3 degrees Celsius.
“The weather will be dry and cold over the state during the next 24 hours. There will be no large change during the next four days,” the meteorological office told PTI.
The prediction came as a dampener to many who have planned to celebrate New Year in Gulmarg, the star attraction for tourists visiting the Valley during winter. The hill resort had experienced scant snowfall this season which had mostly remained dry and cold.
“Chillai-Kalan”, which began on 21st December, is the period when the chances of snowfall are maximum and most frequent. The weather remains cold during this period as the day temperature also dips drastically, freezing most of the water bodies including the famous Dal Lake.
Though “Chillai-Kalan” would end on 31st January, winter continues after that. The 40-day harshest period would be followed by a 20-day long “Chillai Khurd” (small cold) and a 10-day long “Chillai Bachha” (baby cold).
The minimum temperature recorded in the summer capital Srinagar was minus 3.8 degrees Celsius against minus 4.1 degrees Celsius the previous night, the MeT office said.
Srinagar recorded the coldest night of the season on 27th December when the minimum temperature dipped to minus 5.6 degrees Celsius. It was minus 4.7 degrees Celsius on Sunday.
Leh which recorded the coldest night of the season at minus 17.02 on Sunday, registered a dip of nearly three degrees in the night temperature which settled at minus 14.3 degree Celsius.
In the nearby Kargil town, the night temperature marked a dip and settled at minus 13.6 degree Celsius against minus 15.6 degrees yesterday.
Pahalgam hill resort, which serves as a Base Camp during the annual Amarnath Yatra, recorded a low of minus 6 degree Celsius, down by one degree compared to the previous night, the MeT office said.
However, the famous ski resort of Gulmarg in north Kashmir recorded a minimum of minus 4.2 degree Celsius against minus 3.4 degrees Celsius the previous night.
Kupwara town, also in north Kashmir, recorded a low of minus 5.4 degree Celsius, 0.4 degrees less than the previous night, the MeT office said.
