Srinagar, Dec 25: Cold conditions have returned to Kashmir after a brief respite, with minimum temperatures dropping below freezing due to clear night skies, officials said on Thursday.
Earlier this week, cold conditions had eased in the region due to overcast skies following rainfall and snowfall. However, Wednesday night saw a sharp drop in temperatures, with weather stations across Kashmir recording sub-zero readings.
Srinagar recorded a low of -2.2°C, down from 3°C on Tuesday night.
Sonamarg, Central Kashmir’s popular tourist destination, was the coldest place at -7.3°C.
Gulmarg, North Kashmir’s ski resort, recorded -5.4°C, while South Kashmir’s Pahalgam fell to -4.4°C.
Other areas included Qazigund (-1.8°C), Kokernag (-0.7°C), and Kupwara (-2°C), all experiencing a drop of 4–5 degrees from Tuesday.
The Meteorological Department has forecast generally dry weather in Kashmir until December 28. Light snow is possible at isolated higher reaches on December 29, with a chance of rain in plains and snow in higher areas from December 30 to January 1.
The return of sub-zero temperatures comes after recent snowfall and rain, reinforcing the region’s winter chill as the New Year approaches.