DE Web Desk
SRINAGAR, Dec 18: There has been a slight improvement in the severe cold conditions throughout Kashmir, with minimum temperatures rising slightly across the valley, though they remain below freezing, according to officials on Wednesday.
Srinagar recorded a minimum temperature of minus 4.5 degrees Celsius, a small increase from minus 5.3 degrees Celsius the night before.
Officials noted that the continuous cold over recent days has caused the edges of several water bodies, including Dal Lake, to freeze, with many water supply lines in the city and other areas across the valley also becoming frozen due to the frigid temperatures.
The renowned ski resort of Gulmarg saw a low of minus 5 degrees Celsius, a decrease from the previous night.
Pahalgam, another popular tourist destination and a base camp for the annual Amarnath Yatra, reported a low of minus 5.8 degrees Celsius, which was slightly up from minus 5 degrees Celsius the night prior.
Konibal, a quiet village on the outskirts of Pampore, registered the lowest temperature in the valley at minus 6.5 degrees Celsius.
In Qazigund, the gateway to Kashmir, the minimum temperature was minus 5 degrees Celsius, while Kupwara in north Kashmir recorded minus 4.4 degrees Celsius, and Kokernag in south Kashmir noted minus 2.8 degrees Celsius.
The meteorological office has predicted mainly dry weather until December 26, with a chance of light snowfall in higher elevations of the valley on the night of December 21-22.
However, temperatures are expected to drop even further, and a cold wave is anticipated to affect many areas over the next few days.
