Kashmir’s hill resorts continued to reel under intense cold conditions, with Sonamarg in central Kashmir’s Ganderbal district emerging as the coldest place in the Valley after recording a bone-chilling minimum temperature of minus 11.8 degrees Celsius, officials said on Thursday.
J&K’s meteorological centre in Srinagar said the famous ski resort of Gulmarg, in north Kashmir’s Baramulla district, was close behind, registering a low of minus 9.0 degrees Celsius, while Pahalgam in south Kashmir recorded a minimum temperature of minus 4.5 degrees Celsius.
In Srinagar, the summer capital of Jammu and Kashmir, the mercury dipped to minus 0.6 degrees Celsius, which was 0.3 degrees above normal.
Qazigund, the gateway town of the Valley, recorded a minimum of 0.0 degrees Celsius, settling 2.5 degrees above normal.
Other parts of the Valley also experienced freezing night temperatures, with the border area of Kupwara in north Kashmir recording minus 3.5 degrees Celsius and Kokernag in south Kashmir settling at minus 0.6 degrees Celsius, the officials added.
The Meteorological centre in Srinagar said the weather is expected to be mainly dry till January 31.
Another wet spell is expected on February 1 and 2. The Meteorological Department has predicted light to moderate rain and snowfall at scattered to fairly widespread places.
The Kashmir harshest 409day winter phase Chilla-i-Kalan, which is marked by severe cold and increased chances of snowfall would conclude on January 30.
Over the past week, Kashmir has experienced two major spells of snowfall following a prolonged dry phase, bringing much-needed relief to water resources, agriculture, horticulture and tourism sectors across the region.
