Cold Wave Grips Srinagar as Mercury Plunges to –3.2°C, Season’s Lowest

SRINAGAR, Nov 24: The summer capital Srinagar recorded its coldest night of the season as temperatures dipped to –3.2°C on Sunday night, the Meteorological Department said on Monday.

According to the MeT office, the sharp fall in temperatures tightened the grip of winter across the region. Pahalgam recorded –4.0°C, while Gulmarg settled at –1.9°C.
South Kashmir witnessed an even more intense cold wave with Pulwama dropping to –5.0°C and Shopian plunging to –5.1°C, making them among the coldest locations in the Valley. Higher reaches such as Zojila remained frozen at –16.0°C, the data showed.

In North and Central Kashmir, temperatures stayed well below the freezing point. Kupwara recorded –3.2°C, Budgam –3.4°C, and Baramulla dipped sharply to –4.6°C. Awantipora and Sonamarg registered –3.2°C, while Pampore recorded –4.5°C.
The Srinagar Airport area also witnessed severe cold with the mercury touching –3.6°C.

In the Jammu region, temperatures displayed a wide range between plains and higher elevations. Jammu city settled at 10.0°C, Katra and Kathua at 9.2°C each. Upper reaches remained significantly colder: Banihal recorded –1.2°C, Bhaderwah 0.5°C, and Rajouri 3.3°C.

The cold tightened its grip in Ladakh as well. Leh recorded –8.2°C, while Kargil dipped to –8.6°C. Drass, one of the coldest inhabited places globally, registered –10.3°C, while Nyoma plunged to –11.8°C. Other regions like Nubra (–6.6°C) and Padum (–9.3°C) also remained deeply frozen.

The MeT department has forecast mainly dry weather across Kashmir in the coming days, with sub-zero night temperatures likely to persist. Partly cloudy conditions on December 2 and 3 may bring a slight rise in nighttime temperatures but no major relief from the cold.

Kashmir is gradually moving towards the harsh 40-day winter period, Chilla-i-Kalan, beginning on December 21, during which the region typically witnesses its most severe weather.