Excelsior Correspondent
Srinagar, Jan 23: The minimum temperature fell below freezing point in Kashmir today with Meteorological Department forecasting snowfall on Jan 24 and 25.
Srinagar recorded a low of minus 3.4°C against last night’s 1.0°C. Today’s minimum temperature, he said, was 1.1°C below normal for the city.
Qazigund recorded a low of minus 1.0°C against 0.2°C on the previous night and it was 2.9°C above normal for the town.
Pahalgam recorded a low of minus 4.7°C against minus 6.3°C on the previous night and it was 2.8°C above normal for the resort.
Kokernag recorded a low of minus 2.7°C against minus 1.9°C on the previous night and it was 0.9°C above normal for the place.
Gulmarg recorded a low of minus 9.6°C against minus 6.8°C on the previous night and it was 1.4°C below normal for the skiing resort.
In Kupwara town, the mercury settled at minus 2.9°C against minus 0.5°C on the previous night and it was normal for the town.
Leh and Kargil recorded a low of minus 12.6°C and minus 16.6°C respectively.
Kashmir is under the grip of Chillai-Kalan, the 40-day long harsh winter period that started on December 21 and will end on Jan 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.
The MeT department has forecast “isolated” light rain and snow over Jammu and Kashmir during the next 24 hours.
“Widespread to moderate snow in Valley and moderate to heavy snow over middle and higher reaches of Kashmir very likely from evening of January 24th to 25th,” he said.
“On January 26-28th, weather is expected to be partly to generally cloudy with light snow/rain at isolated places.”
From January 29-30th, MeT forecast widespread moderate to heavy rain and snow.
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