Srinagar, Jan 8: Kashmir experienced its coldest night of the season on Wednesday, with several areas recording a sharp drop in minimum temperatures, officials said. The bone chilling cold led to the freezing of fringes of lakes and rivers, including the iconic Dal Lake in Srinagar.
The summer capital recorded a low of minus 5.1°C, down 3.5°C from Tuesday night’s minus 1.6°C, marking the coldest night of the season so far. This temperature was also 3.2°C below the seasonal normal.
Tourist hubs in the valley also shivered under sub-zero temperatures. Sonamarg in Ganderbal district was the coldest, recording minus 9.8°C, while Gulmarg in Baramulla settled at minus 9.2°C, the lowest this winter. Pahalgam in south Kashmir recorded minus 8.6°C, and Qazigund, the valley’s gateway town, dropped to minus 5.4°C, officials said. Other towns saw lows such as Kupwara minus 5.1°C and Kokernag minus 3°C.
The valley is currently experiencing ‘Chilla-i-Kalan’, a 40-day period of extreme cold from December 21 to January 30, during which night temperatures frequently dip below freezing and chances of snowfall are highest. However, the plains of the valley have not received any snowfall this season.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has forecast dry but cloudy weather till January 20, with night temperatures expected to fall further till January 10.