Srinagar: Weather remained pleasant for the third successive day on Sunday due to sunshine even as icy cold winds continued in the summer capital, Srinagar and other parts of Kashmir valley, where fresh snow fall is predicted from next week.
However, night chill intensified across Kashmir valley with mercury plunging several degrees below normal due to open skies.
Meanwhile, there was still no respite for people from chilly weather conditions in Ladakh, where all water-bodies — including lakes and streams remained frozen due to several degrees’ below freezing point temperature. The people in the newly created Union Territory (UT) of Ladakh are mostly dependent on hot water springs during winter. The border town of Kargil was the coldest place in the region at minus 21.6 degree, followed by Kargil, where the mercury settled at minus 19.1 degree.
A Met department spokesperson said that weather is expected to remain dry till February 11 in the valley, which could result in further improvement in the maximum temperature though mercury during the night would dip due to open skies.
However, he said a fresh WD, which originated from the Arabian Sea and is approaching the region though Afghanistan and Pakistan, will hit J&K on February 11. “Under the influence of this WD, light to moderate snow could occur at some places in J&K for three days from February 12,” he added.
After witnessing further dip in the night temperature, people woke up to a chilly Sunday morning in the summer capital, Srinagar. However, as the day progressed sun came out from behind the clouds, resulting in major improvement in the day temperature though ice cold winds continued.
Against minus 3.9 degree recorded on Saturday, the mercury in Srinagar improved and settled at minus 4.2 degree, which below normal. The maximum temperature in the city on Friday was about 2 degree above normal.
Despite improvement in the night temperature, world famous health resort of Pahalgam, about 100 km from here in south Kashmir, was the coldest place in the valley at minus 10.4 degree.
The night temperature at world famous ski resort of Gulmarg, about 55 km from here in north Kashmir, improved about 2 degree from Sunday and settled at minus 9.4 degree. “After witnessing further dip in the night temperature, the weather witnessed improvement as sun came out from behind the clouds on Sunday afternoon in Gulmarg, which is famous for its ski slopes and quality of snow. Tourists, including foreigners, were out on ski slopes enjoying different activities,” a hotelier said.
The mercury during the night at Qazigund, gateway to the valley, Kupwara in north Kashmir and tourist resort of Kokernag dipped and settled at minus 6 degree, minus 5 degree and minus 3.8 degree, respectively.
