Cold Wave Further Intensifies In Kashmir; Skiing Resort Gulmarg Shivers At -9 Deg C

The minimum temperature dipped further across Kashmir due to clear skies with Gulmarg skiing resort recording a bone-chilling minus 9 degrees Celsius, officials said.

The sun has been playing hide and seek in Kashmir since Sunday afternoon following four days of rain and snow. In Srinagar, the minimum temperature settled at a low of minus 3.4 degrees Celsius, down from 1.0 degrees on Saturday night. Qazigund, the gateway to the Valley, registered a low of minus 1.0 degrees Celsius. Kokernag in south Kashmir recorded a low of minus 2.7 degrees Celsius, down a degree, while the minimum temperature in Kupwara settled at minus 2.9 degrees, down from minus 0.5 degrees the previous night, the officials said.

The minimum temperature in Gulmarg in Baramulla district was minus 9.6 degrees Celsius. The famous ski-resort was the coldest place in Jammu and Kashmir. Pahalgam, which serves as a base camp for the annual Amarnath Yatra, recorded a minimum temperature of minus 4.7 degrees Celsius. The MeT office said there are chances of light rain or snow at scattered places in the Union Territory over the next five days except on Friday.

It predicted a much higher intensity of precipitation from Monday to Wednesday, with the possibility of moderate snow in the plains of Kashmir and moderate to heavy snow over the middle and higher reaches, and rain in Jammu. Light rain or snow could occur at isolated places on Saturday and Sunday, it further said.

Kashmir is currently in the grip of 'Chillai Kalan', the 40-day harshest weather period when chances of snowfall are maximum and most frequent. Chillai Kalan begins on December 21 and ends on January 30. The cold wave continues even after that with the 20-day 'Chillai Khurd' and the 10-day-long 'Chillai Bachha' following it.