Chillai Kalan Begins: Kashmir Shivers as Srinagar Records Coldest December Night in Five Decades

SRINAGAR, Dec 21: The 40-day-long Chillai Kalan, known as the harshest period of winter in Kashmir, commenced on Saturday, plunging the valley into a deep freeze. Srinagar witnessed its coldest December night in nearly 50 years, with the mercury dipping to a bone-chilling minus 8.5 degrees Celsius, according to the meteorological department.

The frigid conditions were widespread, with minimum temperatures plummeting well below freezing across the valley. Friday night’s temperature in Srinagar, at minus 8.5 degrees Celsius, marked a sharp drop from the previous night’s minus 6.2 degrees Celsius. It was the coldest December night in the city since 1974 when a low of minus 10.3 degrees Celsius was recorded, making it the third coldest December night since 1891. The record-low temperature for the city in December stands at minus 12.8 degrees Celsius, recorded on December 13, 1934.

The icy grip of winter resulted in the freezing of several water bodies, including portions of the iconic Dal Lake. Water supply lines in various parts of Srinagar and other areas of the valley also froze, causing inconvenience to residents.

South Kashmir’s Pahalgam, a popular tourist destination and a key base camp for the Amarnath Yatra, recorded a low of minus 8.6 degrees Celsius. The renowned ski resort of Gulmarg in north Kashmir wasn’t spared either, with temperatures dropping to minus 6.2 degrees Celsius. The coldest spot in the valley was Konibal, a small hamlet near Pampore, where the minimum temperature nosedived to minus 10.5 degrees Celsius.

Other regions also reeled under intense cold. Qazigund recorded minus 8.2 degrees Celsius, Kupwara minus 7.2 degrees Celsius—its lowest December temperature since 1998—and Kokernag registered minus 5.8 degrees Celsius.

The meteorological office predicted primarily dry weather until December 26, with a possibility of light snowfall over higher altitudes on the night of December 21-22. A similar light snowfall is forecast from December 27 afternoon to December 28 morning. Weather conditions are expected to remain mostly dry on December 29-30, while light snow might blanket higher reaches on New Year’s Eve.

Chillai Kalan, which ends on January 31, is traditionally the coldest phase of winter in Kashmir, characterized by heavy snowfall and significant temperature drops. The period is followed by a 20-day Chillai Khurd (small cold) and a 10-day Chillai Bachha (baby cold), which prolong the wintry chill.

As the cold wave tightens its grip, Kashmiris brace for the challenges and beauty of the valley’s harsh yet mesmerizing winter, with frozen landscapes and snow-covered vistas drawing visitors and posing hardships alike.