People particularly commuters faced chilly conditions on Tuesday as day temperatures across the Kashmir Valley dropped while minimum temperature remained far below freezing point in the Valley.
A meteorological department official told GNS that Srinagar, the summer capital of the state, recorded a low of minus 5.8 degrees Celsius and a maximum of 5.7 degree Celsius, nearly a degree below normal for this time of the year.
The famous hill resort of Pahalgam recorded a low of minus 12.3 Degrees Celsius while it recorded day temperature of 3.8 degree Celsius.
Kashmir is currently under the grip of ‘Chillai-Kalan’ the 40-day harshest period of winter when the chances of snowfall are most frequent and maximum and the temperature drops considerably.
‘Chillai-Kalan’ ends on January 31, but the cold wave continues even after that in Kashmir.
The 40-day period is followed by a 20-day long ‘Chillai-Khurd’ (small cold) and a 10-day long ‘Chillai-Bachha’ (baby cold).
Qazginund, the gateway town of Kashmir, saw a low of minus 7.2 degree Celsius and maximum of 7.6 while Kokernag, also in south Kashmir, recorded a minimum of minus 7.2 degree Celsius and maximum of 5.6 degrees Celsius.
The MeT official said that the mercury at the famous ski-resort of Gulmarg in north Kashmir settled at minus 10.0 degrees Celsius last night while it had a maximum of minus 1.6 degrees Celsius.
Kupwara town in north Kashmir registered a low of minus 7.7 degree Celsius last night and a maximum of 2.5 degrees Celsius, the official said.
“As of now, it looks like another snow spell of stronger intensity is expected around 19-23rd with a peak on January 22,” Director meteorological department Sonam Lotus said.
