Srinagar: The severe cold wave continues to grip Kashmir Valley as Srinagar recorded a low of minus 7.2°C, the weatherman said on Saturday.
A meteorological department official told GNS that the minimum temperature also hovered around far below the normal in other parts of the Valley.
The minimum temperatures have consistently remained far below normal this season. On the previous night Srinagar, the summer capital, recorded a low of minus 7.7°C, more than six degrees below normal (minus 1.0°C) for this time of the season.
On January 14, Srinagar witnessed the season’s coldest night at minus 8.4°C which was the chilliest one in more than 25 years. In 1991, Srinagar witnessed a low of minus 11.8°C while the lowest ever temperature was recorded on 31 January 1893 when the mercury had plummeted to minus 14.4 degrees Celsius.
The mercury settled at minus 12.5°C in Pahalgam against minus 12.0°C on the previous night in the world-famous health resort.
Qazigund, the gateway town of J&K, recorded a low of minus 8.8°C against minus 10.8°C on the previous night while Kokernag recorded a minimum of minus 10.9°C against minus 11.4°C on the earlier night.
Gulmarg recorded a low of minus 10.0°C against minus 11.5°C earlier night, the official said.
The mercury settled at minus 3.7°C in the in Kupwara against minus 3.0°C on the previous night, the official said.
Kashmir is currently under the grip of ‘Chillai-Kalan’— the 40-day harshest winter period which commenced on December 21 and ends on January 31.
The period is considered the harshest of the winter when the chances of snowfall are most frequent and maximum. So far this season there have been already at least two spells of considerable snowfall.
The cold wave, however, continues even after that in Kashmir with a 20-day-long ‘Chillai-Khurd’ (small cold) and a 10-day-long ‘Chillai-Bachha’ (baby cold).
The weatherman has forecast cloudy weather with the possibility of light snowfall at isolated places of J&K and Ladakh during January 31 and February 1. “Light to Moderate snow and rain is most likely at scattered places of J&K and Ladakh mainly during 2-3rd February,” the MeT official added.