Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, Dec 26 : Amid cold cover forecast of snowfall over hills of Kashmir, there was slight respite from intense cold conditions in the region today.
A Meteorological Department official said that Srinagar recorded a low of minus 3.5°C against the previous night’s minus 5.8°C that was the coldest recorded minimum temperature so far during this season. Today’s temperature was 1.5°C below normal for the city.
Qazigund recorded a low of minus 4.2°C against minus 5.0°C on the previous night. The temperature was 2.2°C below normal as well as the season’s coldest for the town.
Pahalgam recorded a low of minus 5.7°C against minus 7.0°C on the previous night which was the coldest night this season for the tourist resort. Today’s minimum temperature was below normal by 0.7°C.
Kokernag recorded a low of minus 2.5°C against minus 2.2°C on the previous night, he said. It was 0.4°C below normal for the place.
Gulmarg recorded a low of minus 5.6°C against minus 6.4°C on the previous night. It was 0.2°C above normal for the skiing resort.
In Kupwara town, the mercury settled at minus 3.5°C against minus 6.0°C on the previous night which was the coldest temperature recorded so far this winter in the north Kashmir area. The temperature was 0.9°C below normal.
Leh and Kargil recorded a low of minus 13.4°C and 10.2°C respectively.
Kashmir is under Chillai-Kalan, the 40-day long harsh winter period that started on December 21 and will end on January 30. It is followed by a 20-day-long period called ‘Chillai-Khurd’ that occurs between January 30 and February 19 and a 10-day-long period ‘Chillai-Bachha’ (baby cold) which is from February 20 to March 1.
“From December 26-30th, generally cloudy weather is expected with intermittent light snow at isolated to scattered places on higher reaches of North, Northwestern and central Kashmir during 29 (Night) -30th,” the MeT official said.
”Slight improvement in minimum temperature and respite from cold and dry weather is expected from 26th to 31st December.”
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