4 places record lowest temp in last 16 years
Srinagar, Feb 2: The minimum temperatures nose-dived on Thursday night at several places in Kashmir with some towns recording the coldest night in past 16 years, officials said here on Friday.
Gulmarg skiing resort in north Kashmir recorded a low of minus 12 degrees Celsius, a drop of more than four degrees compared to previous night’s minus 7.6 degrees Celsius, the officials said.
Pahalgam tourist resort in south Kashmir, which serves as the base camp for the annual Amarnathyatra, recorded a low of minus 11.9 degrees Celsius, a drop of 7.8 degrees from the previous night.
Kokernag and Qazigund towns in south Kashmir both recorded a low of minus 9.4 degrees Celsius, the officials said.
Srinagar, the summer capital of Jammu and Kashmir, recorded a low of minus 0.3 degrees Celsius.
While IMD Srinagar officials release data for only six major weather stations in the Valley, a private weather forecaster claimed that Larnoo in Kokernag was the coldest recorded place in Kashmir where the mercury plunged to minus 17.1 degrees Celsius followed by Sonamarg resort on Srinagar-Leh highway which recorded a low of minus 15.1 degrees Celsius.
“Records break as extreme cold wave hits south Kashmir, parts of Jammu region and Sonamarg. Larnoo in Kokernag coldest at -17.7 °C, followed by Sonamarg at -15.1 °C,” private weather forecaster FaizanArif posted on his X handle.
He said the temperature in Qazigund was the lowest in the past 16 years.
“Qazigund today’s temperature = -9.4 °C. Previous Record = -12.2 °C on 13 Feb 2008. Summary = Lowest temperature in the last 16 years,” he said in a related post.
Although ‘Chilla-i-Kalan’ – the 40-day harshest winter period – ended earlier this week, the cold wave has continued in Kashmir. The Valley is currently going through a 20-day-long ‘Chilla-i-Khurd’ (small cold) which shall be followed by a 10-day ‘Chilla-i-Bachha’ (baby cold).
As per an Independent Weather Forecaster, FaizanArifKeng, three other stations including Batote, Banihal and Bhaderwah recorded the lowest temperature in the last 16 years.
Batote recorded a low of minus 3.8 degree Celsius while Banihal and Bhaderwah recorded the minimum temperature of minus 6.8 degree Celsius and minus 5.2 degree Celsius respectively.
Meanwhile, Director Meteorological department (MeT), Dr Mukhtar Ahmad, said that for the next two days from tomorrow, there is a possibility of light to moderate snow and rain at many places towards evening till 4th February evening with chances of heavy snowfall over isolated higher reaches.
“Middle and higher reaches of North, Northwestern and South Kashmir may receive 8-12 inches of snow, lower reaches and plains may receive 3-6 inches, while plains of Central Kashmir may receive rain with 1-2 inches of snow,” Director MeT predicted.
In Jammu division, he said, there is a possibility of light to moderate rain with thunder and lightning with light to moderate snow over higher reaches of Pirpanjal Range and Chenab Valley during the above period.
On February 05, the weather is expected to remain partly to generally cloudy with possibility of light snow over isolated higher reaches. From February 06-13, the weather is expected to remain dry.
In the meantime, a low danger avalanche warning has been issued for four districts in the next 24 hours.
“Avalanche with low danger level is likely to occur above 2400 metres over Bandipore, Baramulla, Kupwara&Ganderbal districts in next 24 hours,” the statement reads, adding that the avalanche with medium danger level is likely to occur above 3000 metres over Doda, Kishtwar, Poonch, &Ramban districts in next 24 hours.
People living in these areas are advised to take precautions and avoid venturing in the avalanche prone areas, the statement added
