SRINAGAR: Ahead of fresh spell of rain and snow, the Sun was out again for the fourth consecutive day on Thursday in the Kashmir valley, where minimum temperature remained sub-zero despite witnessing improvement.
A Met department said a fresh Western Disturbance (WD) is active in the region which could result in isolated rain or snow in the Jammu and Kashmir during the next 24 hours.
Due to cloudy sky, the night temperature witnessed surge in the Kashmir valley and Union Territory (UT) of Ladakh region though it was still below freezing point at several places, he said.
People continued to shiver and major water bodies remained frozen in Ladakh region, where Drass remained coldest even after witnessing over 13 degree surge against yesterday.
World famous ski resort of Gulmarg was coldest in the valley though there was over 5 degree improvement in the minimum temperature against yesterday. The minimum temperature at Gulmarg, where all ski slopes are covered under three to five feet of snow, was minus 7.2 degree against yesterdays minus 11.5 degree, he said.
Qazigund, gateway of Kashmir on Srinagar-Jammu national highway, was second coldest at minus 6.7 degree minimum temperature against minus 8 degree recorded on Wednesday.
Tourist resort of Kokernag, also in south Kashmir, recorded minus 5.3 degree minimum temperature against minus 6.4 degree witnessed yesterday.
Pahalgam, which serves as base camp for annual pilgrimage to holy Amarnath cave shrine in south Kashmir Himalayas in every summer, also recorded over five degree improvement. The minimum temperature at health resort was minus 4.9 degree against minus 10.3 degree recorded yesterday.
Kupwara, where all roads to border towns of Machil, Keran and Karnah, reopened for traffic after about week of closure due to snowfall, witnessed four degree surge. Against yesterdays minus 6.4 degree, the minimum temperature there was minus 2.2 degree.
The Sun was out for the fourth consecutive day on Thursday though the intensity of the heat was low due to icy cold winds coming from surrounding hills which are covered under snow in Srinagar. However, due to cloudy sky during the night, the minimum temperature witnessed a surge and settled at minus 2.3 degree against minus 3.7 degree on Wednesday, when interior parts of the Dal Lake were frozen.
(agencies)
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