Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU/SRINAGAR, Jan 12: Jammu recorded the coldest night of the season on Thursday, with the maximum temperature plummeting 3.3 degree below normal to settle at 3.7 degrees Celsius while foggy weather today affected arrival/departure of 9 flights and 10 trains in the region.
The maximum temperature of the city was recorded at 8.5 degrees Celsius, which was 9.5 degrees Celsius below normal, an official of the Meteorological Department said. The residents of Jammu plains are reeling under severe cold wave over the past one week with the mercury hovering several notches below normal due to foggy conditions in the morning hours and absence of the Sun during the day.
The official said that Banihal town along the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway recorded a maximum of 20.6 degrees Celsius, which is 10.3 degrees Celsius above normal. However, the night temperature in the highway town was minus 0.4 degrees Celsius. Katra, the base camp for pilgrims visiting the Mata Vaishno Devi shrine in Reasi district, recorded a maximum of 19.5 degrees Celsius and a minimum of 6.2 degrees Celsius, the official said.
The picturesque Bhaderwah town in Doda district recorded a high of 16.2 degrees Celsius and a low of 1.3 degree Celsius while Batote recorded a maximum of 17.0 degree Celsius and a minimum of 4.5 degree Celsius.
A dry winter in Kashmir has resulted in freezing nights and warmer-than-usual days. Day temperatures in Srinagar were more than 6 degrees Celsius above the normal for this time of the year. The Valley continued to experience sub-zero night temperatures with the mercury settling below the normal for this time of the year.
Srinagar city recorded a minimum temperature of minus 4 degrees Celsius last night – a notch up from the previous night, Qazigund recorded a low of minus 4.2 degrees and the ski resort of Gulmarg recorded a low of minus 3.2 degrees Celsius, Pahalgam recorded a minimum temperature of minus 5.3 degrees Celsius. The minimum temperature in Kokernag town settled at minus 2.4 degrees Celsius, while it was minus 4.4 degrees Celsius in Kupwara.
Srinagar city recorded a maximum temperature of 9.7 degrees Celsius today which is 3.3 degrees Celsius above normal, Qazigund recorded a maximum of 11.3 degree Celsius, Pahalgam recorded a maximum of 11.6 degree Celsius, Kupwara recorded a maximum of 11.8 degree Celsius, Kokernag recorded a maximum of 10.5 degree Celsius and Gulmarg recorded a maximum of 6.4 degree Celsius.
Kashmir is currently under the grip of “Chilla-i-Kalan”, a 40-day harsh winter period during which a cold wave sweeps the region and temperatures drop considerably leading to the freezing of water bodies as well as water in pipes.
The chances of snowfall are the highest during this period and most areas, particularly the higher reaches, receive heavy snowfall. Kashmir has been going through a prolonged dry spell and a 79 per cent rain deficit was recorded for December. There was no precipitation in the first week of January. There has been no snowfall in most plains of Kashmir while the upper reaches have received lesser-than-usual amounts of snow.
‘Chilla-i-Kalan’ will end on January 31. However, the cold conditions will continue after that with a 20-day ‘Chilla-i-Khurd’ (small cold) and a 10-day ‘Chilla-i-Bachha’ (baby cold).
As per a Meteorological Department official, a feeble western disturbance is likely to affect the region today with a possibility of light snowfall over isolated places in the higher reaches, however there would be no major respite from the cold weather conditions.
“Feeble western disturbances are likely to affect Jammu and Kashmir on Friday and January 17 evening. “Under the influence of these western disturbances, generally cloudy weather with light snowfall over isolated places in the higher reaches is expected,
Meanwhile, foggy weather in plains of Jammu region has also hit the rail and air traffic, causing inconvenience to the passengers.
Director, Jammu Airport, SK Garg told Excelsior that due to foggy weather, 9 flights to and fro Jammu Airport were delayed by one to 3 hours while one incoming and another outgoing flight were cancelled. However, no flight was diverted. The flights which were delayed include Air India 449/450, Spicejet 160/161, Indigo 291/6003, Indigo 959/6738, Air India 821/821, UK 611/612, Indigo 2609/2609 and Vistara 611/612.
According to a Railway official, due to foggy conditions in plains of Jammu and other parts of North India, 9 trains arrived late at Railway Station Jammu while one train (Pooja Express) departed late by more than 12 hours of its scheduled time. The trains which arrived late include Pooja Express (by 17 hours), Malwa Express (5 hours), Jhelum Express (2 hours), Super Express (4 hours), Sealdah Express (3 hours), Lohit Express (6 hours), Shalimar Express (4 hours), Uttar Sampark Kranti (1 hour) and Hemkunt Express (2 hours).
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