Valley continues to shiver under sub-zero temp

Srinagar, Jan 20: Cold weather conditions prevailed across the Valley as night temperature which was already below freezing point dipped further as Leh recorded the lowest temperature of the season at minus 16.4 degrees Celsius.

Temperature at Leh went down by over five notches to minus 16.4 degrees Celsius from minus 11.1 degrees Celsius the previous night, a spokesman for the Met department here said.

Meanwhile, Sringar continued to experience bright sunshine for the second consecutive day today despite a drop in the night temperature. The maximum temperature recorded in the city yesterday was 13.3 degrees Celsius seven degrees above normal, the spokesman said.

The summer capital registered a decrease of over two notches in the night temperature as the mercury settled at a low of minus 4.4 degrees Celsius against the previous night's minus 2.3 degrees Celsius.

The minimum temperature in the nearby Kargil town also decreased nearly four notches to record a low of minus 15.0 degrees Celsius against the previous night's low of minus 11.4 degrees Celsius, the spokesman said.

The spokesman said the famous tourist resort of Pahalgam in south Kashmir witnessed a drop of over three degrees in the night temperature which settled at minus 7.5 degrees Celsius against yesterday's minus 4.4 degrees Celsius.

The famous ski-resort of Gulmarg in north Kashmir, the star attraction for tourists visiting the Valley during the winters, recorded a drop of over a degree in the minimum temperature which settled at minus 7.4 degrees Celsius.

The night temperature recorded at Qazigund, the gateway town to Kashmir Valley, was minus 3.4 degrees Celsius, while Kokernag marked a slight improvement with a low of minus 1.7 degrees Celsius, the spokesman said.

Kupwara town in north Kashmir recorded a drop of over three degrees in the night temperature which settled at a low of minus 5.3 degrees Celsius, the spokesman said, adding the town had recorded the minimum of minus 1.7 degrees Celsius the previous night.

The Mete department has predicted dry weather to continue with occasional bouts of rainfall in the upper reaches during this month. Kashmir is in the midst of Chilai-Kalan, the harsh 40-day phase of winter during which chances of snowfall is frequent and maximum.

This year the period began on December 21 and will continue till the end of this month. The 40-day period is followed by a 20-day long 'Chillai-Khurd' (small cold) and a 10-day long 'Chillai Bachha' (baby cold).

However, the harshest winter period has thus far remained largely dry except for brief spells of light snow in plains on two occasions and moderate snowfall in the higher reaches on a few occasions.

This year the maximum temperature at most places, including Srinagar, has been settling above the normal for the past few days.

PTI