Srinagar Shivers as Mercury Dips Below Freezing; Coldest Night of the Season Recorded
SRINAGAR, Nov 20: Srinagar and several other areas in Kashmir endured a biting winter chill on Wednesday, marking the coldest night of the season so far as temperatures plummeted below the freezing point across most parts of the valley, according to officials.
The summer capital of Jammu and Kashmir, Srinagar, recorded a minimum temperature of minus 0.7 degrees Celsius, signaling the onset of harsher winter conditions.
Other locations across the valley mirrored the trend, with many reporting their coldest night of the season. The southern gateway town of Qazigund registered a low of minus 1.6 degrees Celsius, while the picturesque Pahalgam tourist resort, often a favorite for winter travelers, was the coldest recorded spot with the mercury plunging to minus 3.7 degrees Celsius.
In the popular Gulmarg ski resort, the minimum temperature was logged at minus 0.6 degrees Celsius, while Kupwara, situated in north Kashmir, recorded a chilly minus 0.8 degrees Celsius.
Interestingly, Kokernag, in south Kashmir, stood out as the only location where the temperature managed to stay above freezing, recording a minimum of 1.2 degrees Celsius, offering some respite from the icy conditions gripping the rest of the valley.
The Meteorological Department (MeT) has predicted that the weather is likely to remain mostly clear and dry till November 23, allowing residents and tourists to enjoy crisp, sunny days despite the frosty nights. However, a change is anticipated starting November 24, with overcast skies and the possibility of light rain or snowfall, particularly in higher altitudes, at scattered locations across the region.
As winter gradually tightens its grip on Kashmir, the plunge in temperatures signals the beginning of the valley’s famed snowy season, drawing both concern and excitement for residents and visitors alike.
