Srinagar, 14-01-2024 : The frigid grip of winter has returned to the picturesque region of Kashmir, as temperatures plummeted to minus 4.2 degrees Celsius in Srinagar on Saturday night, signaling the resurgence of a cold wave. This drop in mercury follows a brief reprieve provided by a weak western disturbance on the previous Saturday, according to officials.
The winter in Kashmir has been marked by dry and predominantly snowless conditions, contributing to freezing nights and unusually warmer days. Srinagar, the summer capital, has experienced day temperatures that are more than eight degrees above the normal range for this time of the year, as reported by officials.
Surprisingly, Jammu, the winter capital of the Union territory, has witnessed colder temperatures than Srinagar for nearly a week. The city of temples recorded a low of 2.5 degrees Celsius on Saturday night, registering a deviation of 4.5 degrees below the normal temperature.
Srinagar city, renowned for its scenic beauty, witnessed a minimum temperature of minus 4.2 degrees Celsius on Saturday night, a notable decline from Friday’s 0.2 degrees Celsius. Other regions also experienced the brunt of the cold wave, with Qazigund recording a low of minus 4 degrees, Gulmarg in north Kashmir at minus 1.2 degrees Celsius, and Pahalgam in south Kashmir’s Anantnag district, a base camp for the annual Amarnath Yatra, dropping to minus 5.5 degrees Celsius.
Notably, the entire region is currently in the midst of “Chilla-i-Kalan,” a 40-day harsh winter period characterized by a pervasive cold wave, causing water bodies and pipes to freeze. This period, which concludes on January 31, is marked by a heightened likelihood of snowfall, especially in the higher reaches of Kashmir.
Despite the prolonged dry spell, with a staggering 79% deficit in rainfall recorded for December, and minimal precipitation in the first fortnight of January, the meteorological department predicts mainly dry weather until January 21. The absence of snowfall in most plain areas of Kashmir, coupled with lower-than-usual snowfall in the upper reaches, has contributed to the prevailing cold conditions.
Following the conclusion of ‘Chilla-i-Kalan’ on January 31, the region will enter a 20-day ‘Chilla-i-Khurd’ (small cold) period, followed by a 10-day ‘Chilla-i-Bachha’ (baby cold), ensuring that the biting cold persists even beyond the end of January.
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