Srinagar: Kashmir continued to reel under biting cold on Thursday, with several parts of the Valley recording sub-zero minimum temperatures, even as the Meteorological Department (MeT) forecast a spell of snow and rain across Jammu and Kashmir in the coming days.
The chill has intensified ahead of the onset of Chillai Kalan, the Valley’s harshest 40-day winter period, beginning December 21.
In Kashmir, Srinagar recorded a minimum temperature of 0.2°C, while the Srinagar Airport registered 0.0°C. Qazigund recorded 0.8°C, Pahalgam 0.4°C and Kupwara minus 1.0°C. Pampore and Baramulla recorded lows of minus 1.8°C each, while Awantipora was the coldest place in the Valley at minus 3.8°C. Pulwama recorded minus 3.2°C, Shopian minus 1.5°C and Budgam minus 0.8°C. Anantnag recorded minus 0.3°C, Bandipora minus 0.8°C and Ganderbal minus 0.1°C. Kokernag, Kulgam and Sonamarg recorded relatively higher minimums of 1.8°C, 2.0°C and 2.1°C, respectively.
Tourist resort Gulmarg recorded a low of 1.6°C, while Zojila Pass was the coldest in the region at minus 17°C.
The Jammu region witnessed comparatively milder night temperatures. Jammu city recorded a minimum of 11.0°C, while Jammu Airport settled at 11.5°C. Katra recorded 12.1°C, Banihal 5.7°C and Bhaderwah 5.0°C. Batote recorded 9.5°C, Udhampur 6.1°C, Ramban 8.3°C, Samba 7.1°C and Rajouri 3.0°C. Kathua and Doda recorded 8.8°C each, Kishtwar 8.6°C and Reasi 9.7°C. In Ladakh, Leh recorded a minimum temperature of minus 3.4°C.
Meanwhile, the Meteorological Centre Srinagar has forecast a spell of cloudy weather with the likelihood of light to moderate snow and rain at several places across Jammu and Kashmir.
Director MeT, Dr Mukhtar Ahmad, said weather between December 18 and 19 is expected to remain partly to generally cloudy, with the possibility of very light snowfall at isolated higher reaches of north and central Kashmir.
He said December 20 and 21 may witness generally cloudy conditions, with chances of light to moderate snowfall over the higher reaches of the Kashmir division, while plains of Jammu and Kashmir may receive light to moderate rainfall, particularly from late night of December 20 to the afternoon of December 21.
The department has forecast generally cloudy weather with light rain or snow at scattered places on December 22, while December 23 to 29 is likely to remain partly to generally cloudy. On December 30 and 31, there is a possibility of light snowfall at isolated higher reaches.
Issuing an advisory, the MeT cautioned that higher reaches of Kupwara, Bandipora and Ganderbal districts may receive moderate to heavy snowfall on December 21, and advised travellers and transporters to plan their journeys accordingly and adhere to traffic and administrative advisories.
