Srinagar, Dec 20: Kashmir is likely to witness a spell of wet weather, including moderate to heavy snowfall in higher reaches, even as night temperatures showed a slight improvement ahead of the onset of ‘Chillai-Kalan’ the Valley’s 40-day harsh winter period officials said on Saturday.
The Meteorological Department has forecast rain and snow on December 20 and 21, coinciding with the beginning of Chillai-Kalan, which starts on December 21 and continues till January 31. During this period, the chances of snowfall are at their highest, accompanied by a sharp dip in temperatures across the Valley.
According to the weather office, moderate to heavy snowfall is expected in the upper reaches, while plains may receive light to moderate rain or snow. Kashmir has so far not experienced any major wet spell this winter, and prolonged dry conditions have reportedly led to a rise in seasonal ailments such as cough and cold.
Despite the forecast, night temperatures improved marginally across the Valley. Pulwama recorded the lowest minimum temperature at minus 3.2 degrees Celsius. Srinagar registered a low of minus 0.4 degrees Celsius, nearly two degrees higher than the previous night’s minus 2.1 degrees.
A thick blanket of fog covered Srinagar and several other parts of Kashmir on Saturday morning, particularly near water bodies.
In south Kashmir, Pahalgam recorded a minimum temperature of minus 1 degree Celsius, while Kokernag and Qazigund settled at 0.8 and minus 1 degree Celsius, respectively. Kupwara in north Kashmir recorded a low of minus 0.7 degrees Celsius.
Gulmarg, the famous ski resort, witnessed a relatively warmer night, with the mercury settling at 2 degrees Celsius, the MeT department said.