Srinagar, 03-01-2024 : The Kashmir Valley is currently grappling with an intense cold wave, as temperatures continue to plummet. On Wednesday, Srinagar experienced a frigid low of -4.8°C, marking the second consecutive day of such harsh conditions. This reading was -2.7°C below the seasonal norm for this period in the summer capital of Jammu and Kashmir.
The biting cold has led to the freezing of parts of Dal Lake and other water bodies in Srinagar and across the valley. Despite the sun making an appearance during the day, the maximum temperature in Srinagar stood at 4.3°C above the normal of 6.9°C, registering 11.2°C on the previous day. Similar above-normal day temperatures were observed in other valley stations, ranging between 4-5°C.
Pahalgam, a popular tourist destination in south Kashmir, experienced a further drop in night temperatures, reaching -6.6°C on Wednesday compared to the -6.2°C recorded the previous night. Meanwhile, Qazigund on the Srinagar-Jammu national highway recorded a low of -4.6°C, Kokernag reached -3.2°C, and Gulmarg improved slightly to -3.8°C.
In north Kashmir, Kupwara witnessed a low of -5.3°C on Wednesday, indicating a drop from the -4.6°C recorded a day earlier and standing 2.8°C below normal.
The Meteorological Centre in Srinagar forecasts mainly dry weather with general cloudiness for January 4–5. There is a possibility of very light snow over isolated, extreme higher reaches of Jammu and Kashmir during this period. From January 6–7, the weather is expected to remain dry with no significant weather activity. The persistent cold wave underscores the need for residents to brace for continued chilly conditions in the Kashmir Valley.