Srinagar: An extreme cold wave gripped Kashmir Valley with Srinagar experiencing its coldest night of the season at -6.0°C on Thursday.
This temperature is 4.0°C below the average for this time of year in the summer capital of Jammu and Kashmir, according to the Meteorological Department in Srinagar.
Previously, the lowest temperature recorded in Srinagar this season was -5.4°C on December 10.
With the relentless cold, interior parts of the iconic Dal Lake in Srinagar have been frozen due to the impact of the freezing temperature disrupting the normal life for the inhabitants. Reports of freezing of water tapes were also received from several areas.
The cold wave will continue at isolated to scattered places of Kashmir valley with overall no significant change in the weather till December 26, the MeT office said.
A feeble Western Disturbance (WD) is likely to hit and can cause light snow over the few higher reaches towards the late event of December 27 night to morning of December 28, they said.
Tourist spot of Pahalgam remained the coldest place with the temperature further plummeting to minus 6.8°C on Thursday against the minus 5.8°C recorded on the previous night. This was 2.3°C below normal for the valley of shepherds in south Kashmir’s Anantnag district.
The minimum temperature at Qazigund, the gateway town of Kashmir also significantly dropped and recorded at minus 7.0°C against the minus 5.0°C on Wednesday and this was 4.7°C below normal for the south Kashmir place during the period.
Kokernag in south Kashmir recorded a low of minus 5.3°C against the minus 2.8°C the previous night and this was 3.27°C below normal for the picnic place of south Kashmir.
The ski resort of Gulmarg settled at minus 5.0°C for the second consecutive day on Thursday. However, this was normal for the valley of meadow in north Kashmir’s Baramulla district on this day.
Kupwara further slipped down to a low of minus 6.2°C against the minus 4.4°C recorded the previous night and this was 3.5°C below normal for the border district of north Kashmir during this period of season, the MeT office.
UNI
