Excelsior Correspondent
Srinagar, Jan 13: Cold intensified grip over Kashmir and Ladakh with Srinagar experiencing the coldest January night in the last five years freezing water supply lines and water bodies, including Dal lake.
The mercury in Srinagar went down by over a degree from the previous night’s minus 5 degree Celsius to settle at a low of minus 6.3 degree Celsius.
The night temperature in the city was season’s second lowest as it had recorded a low of minus 6.5 degree Celsius on December 21.
The temperature at Leh town and Pahalgam went up slightly from that of the previous night.
Leh continued to be the coldest recorded place in the State as the mercury settled at a low of minus 14 degree Celsius, up nearly four notches from yesterday’s minus 17.7 degree Celsius which was the season’s lowest.
Pahalgam in South Kashmir went slightly up from the previous night’s minus 13 degree Celsius to settle at a low of minus 12.4 degree Celsius. The minimum temperature at the resort was at a three-year low for the month of January.
Gulmarg in North Kashmir recorded the season’s lowest night temperature as the mercury settled at a low of minus 13.6 degree Celsius.
Kokernag, in South Kashmir, registered a low of minus 8.7 degrees Celsius, down from yesterday’s minus 7.1 degree Celsius, while Kupwara town in North Kashmir recorded a low of minus 6.8 degree Celsius, a notch down from the previous night’s minus 5.8 degree Celsius, the official said.
The mercury in Qazigund of South Kashmir settled at a low of minus 7 degree Celsius.
Jammu recorded a minimum of 3.1 degree Celsius, Katra 3.9 degree Celsius, Banihal minus 4.3 degree Celsius, Batote minus 1.8 degree Celsius and Bhaderwah minus 5.4 degree Celsius.
Srinagar recorded a maximum of 3.2 degree Celsius, Qazigund 3.4 degree Celsius, Pahalgam recorded 0.9 degree Celsius, Kokernag recorded 0.7 degree Celsius, Kupwara 4.1 degree Celsius, Gulmarg minus 3.5 degree Celsius and Leh 0.8 degree Celsius.
Jammu recorded a maximum of 17.3 degree Celsius, Katra 15.3 degree Celsius, Banihal 11.3 degree Celsius, Batote 8.7 degree Celsius and Bhaderwah 8.3 degree Celsius.
The Meteorological Department has forecast another spell of wet weather from tomorrow. A MeT official said that there is a possibility of isolated rainfall or snowfall tomorrow, after which we expect scattered to fairly-widespread rains or snow over four days from January 15.
Due to freezing temperatures in Kashmir, the water bodies including Dal lake was frozen today. The boatmen were seen breaking the ice to row the boats. The water supply pipes were also frozen leading to water shortage in the morning. However, due to improvement in temperature during the day there was some relief but the cold and icy winds were blowing across Valley throughout the day.
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