SRINAGAR, Jan 24: Kashmir experienced a drop in minimum temperatures on Friday as the cold conditions intensified across the valley. The Meteorological Department has forecasted predominantly dry weather for the rest of the month, according to officials.
The minimum temperature in Srinagar recorded a low of minus 3.3 degrees Celsius on Thursday night, a decrease from the prior night’s minus 2 degrees Celsius, as per the meteorological department.
In Pahalgam, a key base camp for the annual Amarnath Yatra in south Kashmir, temperatures fell to minus 7 degrees Celsius, down from minus 5.6 degrees Celsius the previous night.
Gulmarg, the renowned ski resort in north Kashmir, reported a minimum temperature of minus 8.5 degrees Celsius, which is one degree lower than the previous night.
Other recorded temperatures included minus 2.5 degrees Celsius in Qazigund, minus 5 degrees Celsius at Konibal in Pampore, minus 4 degrees Celsius in Kupwara, and minus 1.5 degrees Celsius in Kokernag.
Currently, Kashmir is undergoing the ‘Chillai-Kalan’ phase, recognized as the coldest segment of winter. This 40-day period, commencing from December 21, is characterized by a high likelihood of snowfall and significant drops in temperature.
‘Chillai-Kalan’ concludes on January 30, followed by a 20-day ‘Chillai-Khurd’ (small cold) and a 10-day ‘Chillai-Bachha’ (baby cold).
The meteorological department has predicted mostly dry weather for the remainder of ‘Chillai-Kalan’.
It anticipates a cloudy yet dry weather pattern that will persist until January 29. A potential light rain or snow event may occur at isolated locations during the night of January 29 or the morning of January 30, after which the weather is expected to be partly to generally cloudy on January 31, as reported by the department.
Overall, no significant weather changes are expected until the end of January, according to the MeT Office.
Additionally, a gradual and considerable rise in daytime temperatures is anticipated over the next five days, along with a possible decrease of 1-3 degrees in the minimum temperature.
