The severe cold wave continued its grip across Kashmir as most places recorded a further drop in minimum temperatures last night, with Shopian emerging as the coldest area in the Valley at –7.5°C, officials said on Wednesday.
According to meteorological department data, Pulwama in south Kashmir also reeled under intense cold at –7.0°C, while Kupwara and Pahalgam recorded lows of –6.2°C and –6.0°C, respectively.
Gulmarg, the famous ski resort, settled at –3.8°C, and Sonamarg recorded –2.2°C.
In Srinagar, the summer capital of Jammu and Kashmir, the minimum temperature dropped to –5.2°C, compared to –4.9°C the previous night, marking an increase in the intensity of freezing conditions.
The night’s temperatures showed a declining trend in most places. Shopian fell from –6.3°C to –7.5°C, while Pulwama dipped from –6.6°C to –7.0°C. Kupwara, however, recorded a slight decrease from –5.8°C to –6.2°C, and Pahalgam improved marginally from –6.2°C to –6.0°C.
The cold conditions also persisted across the Jammu region as several places recorded low minimum temperatures, with Bhaderwah remaining the coldest at 0.5°C. The winter capital Jammu registered a minimum of 4.0°C.
Weather is likely to remain mainly dry in Jammu and Kashmir upto Thursday. A change in weather is forecast from January 16–17, with generally cloudy conditions and light rain or snow at scattered places.
On January 18, the weather is expected to be partly to generally cloudy, with light snowfall over isolated higher reaches. A more active Western Disturbance is likely between January 19 and 21, when generally cloudy conditions with light to moderate rain or snow at scattered to fairly widespread places are expected.
Similar weather is likely to continue from January 22 to 24, with light to moderate rain or snowfall predicted at many places across the union Territory.
