Cold conditions intensified across the Kashmir Valley as several places recorded sub-zero minimum temperatures during the night, officials said on Saturday.
According to the latest weather data, the summer capital Srinagar recorded a minimum temperature of minus 1.5°C, marking a drop from the 0.1°C recorded the previous night.
Tourist destinations witnessed harsher conditions, with ski resort of Gulmarg emerging as the coldest place in the Valley at minus 6.5°C, slightly higher than the minus 7°C recorded the night before.
The hill resort of Pahalgam registered a minimum temperature of minus 5.2°C, compared to minus 6.2°C a day earlier. In north Kashmir, Kupwara saw the mercury dip to minus 1.6°C, a significant fall from the previous night’s 0.8°C.
South Kashmir districts also experienced freezing nights. Shopian recorded a low of minus 4.7°C, down from minus 3.8°C, while Pulwama saw temperatures fall to minus 3.9°C, compared to minus 2.4°C the previous night.
The Meteorological Department said the minimum night temperatures across many parts of the Kashmir division remained 0–3°C above normal, while several areas in the Jammu division recorded temperatures 1–2°C above normal.
Bhaderwah was the coldest place in the Jammu division, registering a low of minus 1.5°C.
The Meteorological Department has forecast mainly dry weather over Jammu and Kashmir during the next 48 hours. The outlook indicates predominantly dry conditions, suggesting no major weather disturbance in the region for several days.
The Kashmir Valley is currently passing through Chillai Kalan, the harshest phase of winter, which began on December 21 and lasts for 40 days. The onset of Chillai Kalan was marked by fresh snowfall in the higher reaches, including popular tourist destinations such as Gulmarg, Pahalgam and Sonamarg.
