Srinagar: There is no let up in bone chilling cold and night temperature continuing to fall in Kashmir valley as Srinagar recorded -7.3°C on Wednesday, officials said.This was the second coldest minimum temperature recorded this season and it remains 4.9°C below the average. On December 21 Srinagar recorded the season’s coldest night at -8.5°C.
The relentless cold wave and plummeting temperature are severely affecting daily life with freezing taps, several water bodies and major parts of iconic Dal lake.
Tourist spot of Pahalgam remained the coldest place of the valley with night temperature further slipped down to -8.4°C on Wednesday against the -7.8°C recorded a day ago. This was 3.2°C below normal for the valley of shepherds in south Kashmir’s Anantnag district during the period.
Qazigund had a low of -6.6°C against the -6.2°C recorded the previous night and this was 4.2°C below the average for the gateway to Kashmir valley.
Kokernag in south Kashmir witnessed a slight rise in the night temperature recorded at -5.4°C against the -6.4°C a day ago and this was 3.2°C below the average for the place.
The ski resort of Gulmarg in north Kashmir’s Baramulla district also witnessed a marginal improvement in the minimum temperature recorded at -6.6°C on Wednesday against the -7.4°C recorded on Tuesday. This was 0.6°C below normal for the valley of meadows during this period.
The minimum temperature at Kashmir’s frontier district of Kupwara settled at -6.4°C for the second consecutive day on Wednesday which was 3.4°C below normal for the border town during this period of the season, the MeT office.
The cold wave is likely to continue in Kashmir valley, the Meteorological Centre in Srinagar said.
It said the weather will generally remain cloudy and dry till December 26.
A feeble Western Disturbance (WD) is likely to hit and can cause light rain over plains of Jammu and light snow over higher reaches of Chenab valley and Pirpanjal range towards December 27 late afternoon to December 18 forenoon.
The weather will remain dry hereafter till December 30 and another spell of light snow is expected at a few higher reaches in Kashmir valley at the end of the year, the MeT office said.
It said a slight rise in Minimum temperature by 1-2°C is expected to fall by 2-3°C is expected till December 26.
From January 1 to 3, there is a possibility of light Snow at isolated to scattered places over the Kashmir valley, the MeT office said.
UNI
