Weather to change from Jan 25 in Valley
Nights colder, days warmer in Kashmir
Gopal Sharma/Fayaz Bukhari
JAMMU/ SRINAGAR, Jan 15: Severe cold and foggy weather conditions continued in Jammu region resulting in cancellation of three flights and one train, while 13 trains and 11 flights were badly affected with dense fog and poor visibility in the region today.
Kashmir remained in the grip of a cold wave as the mercury stayed several degrees below freezing point last night while day temperatures continue to settle several degrees above normal.
While thick blanket of fog over the sky in Jammu region continued for the last several days, but during the mid day, Sun was visible for few hours today. It provided a little relief to the people at winter capital. The day temperature showed a little improvement in Jammu today and remained 10.8 degrees C as compared to yesterday’s 8.5 deg C.
The night temperature in Jammu also experienced a little improvement and remained 3.0 degrees Celsius as compared to Sunday’s night temperature of 2.5 degrees Celsius. However, the winter capital- Jammu remained 3 degrees colder than Srinagar during the day today.
Holy township of Katra recorded a maximum temperature of 19.6 deg C and minimum 6.4; Bhaderwah town a day temperature of 18.5 deg C and night temp of 1.3 deg C while Banihal town recorded a maximum temperature of 19.8 and minimum minus 0.8 degrees Celsius today.
An Airport official at Jammu said that three flights of Air India were cancelled today while 11 delayed due to fog and poor visibility. He said seven IndiGo, three SpiceJet and Vistara (one) flights, were delayed at Jammu Airport on Monday. The departure of these flights was also rescheduled.
A Northern Railways spokesman said that 13 trains were today badly hit due to dense fog in the region and arrived late at Jammu station. Puja Express was late by 13 hours, Jhelum Exp 11 hours; Malwa, Tata Muri and Mourdwaj Exp late by 10 hours; Shalimar, Utter Samparak Kranti and Himgiri by 5 hrs, Sealdah by 4 hours, Superfast 3 hours, Hemkund 2 hours while Shri Shakti by 1.10 hrs late today. Himsagar train was cancelled while departure of Puja Exp was delayed by 1.20 hrs at Jammu Station on Monday, he added.
Director Meteorological Department, Srinagar Mukhtar Ahmed said that persistent dry spell in the Valley is anticipated to conclude by the 25th of this month, with early indicators suggesting a shift in the weather. He said unusual weather patterns in the Valley are attributed to the El Niño weather phenomenon, resulting in a dry Himalayan region devoid of snowfall. He said prolonged presence of El Niño, persisting for the last two months, is a major contributing factor to the ongoing dry spell.
MeT director attributed the primary cause of this weather phenomenon to the absence of western disturbances, with no significant relief expected shortly. “The weather forecast for the coming days indicates a feeble Western disturbance from the 15th to the 16th, with chances of light snowfall, especially in districts Kupwara, Bandipora, and some upper reaches of central Kashmir. There is also a possibility of light snowfall in the upper reaches of district Bandipora. The weather is expected to remain dry until the 20th of this month,” he said.
“Another feeble Western disturbance is expected between the 20th and 21st, causing overcast conditions, with the weather likely to remain dry until the 24th,” he added.
The Weatherman said after the 25th, different weather models suggest a potential turn in the weather, with the possibility of rain or snow, as per early indications.
He said the Srinagar weather observatory is one of the longest-running observatories in the country, with more than 100 years of records since its establishment in 1891. “The government established the full-fledged office under the name Meteorological Centre Srinagar in 1980,” he said.
Meanwhile, Srinagar city recorded a minimum temperature of minus 4.3 degrees Celsius last night, almost the same as the previous night. The maximum temperature of the place settled at 13.6 degree Celsius today which was 7.2 degree Celsius above normal for the city for this time of the year.
Qazigund recorded a low of minus 4.2 degrees. The maximum temperature of the place settled at 14.0 degree Celsius which is 8.0 degree Celsius above normal for the place during this time of the year.
Pahalgam recorded a minimum temperature of minus 5.6 degrees Celsius. The maximum temperature of the pace was recorded at 14.1 degree Celsius which is 10.0 degree Celsius above normal for the place during this time of the year.
The minimum temperature in Kokernag town settled at minus 2 degrees Celsius while maximum was recorded at 11.4 degree Celsius which is 7.1 degree Celsius above normal for the place during this time of the year.
Kupwara settled at a minimum of minus 4.1 degrees Celsius and maximum was recorded at 14.5 degree Celsius which is 8.0 degree Celsius above normal for the place during this time of the year.
The ski resort of Gulmarg recorded a minimum of minus 2.8 degrees Celsius and the maximum temperature of it settled at of 9.0 degree Celsius which is 8.6 degree Celsius above normal for the place during this time of the year.
A dry and largely snowless winter in Kashmir has resulted in freezing nights and warmer than usual days as Srinagar day temperatures were over eight degrees above the normal temperature for this time of the year, officials said here.
Kashmir is currently under the grip of “Chilla-i-Kalan”, a 40-day harsh winter period, when 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.
There has been no snowfall in most plain areas of Kashmir, while the upper reaches of the valley have received lesser than usual amount of snow. The meteorological department has forecast mainly dry weather till January 21.
‘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).
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