Kashmir Sees a Rise in Night Temperatures Amid Winter Chill; Gulmarg Records -8.2°C
Srinagar, Jan 18 – Most parts of Kashmir witnessed an increase in minimum temperatures, though they continued to remain below the freezing point. Srinagar recorded a low of -0.9°C on Saturday night, offering some relief from the harsher cold experienced earlier.
According to the Meteorological Centre in Srinagar, the iconic Gulmarg ski resort in north Kashmir’s Baramulla district registered a minimum temperature of -8.2°C, maintaining its position as one of the coldest locations in the region.
Pahalgam, a favored tourist destination in south Kashmir’s Anantnag district, experienced a significant rise in its overnight temperatures. The mercury climbed to -3.4°C on Friday night, providing some respite from the previous night’s extreme chill when the temperature had plummeted to a bone-freezing -11.8°C.
The Meteorological Department also noted that Srinagar’s minimum temperature of -0.9°C, though higher than the previous night, remained 2.0°C below the normal range for this period. Elsewhere in the valley, Qazigund, the gateway town to Kashmir, recorded a low of -2.5°C, while Kokernag and Kupwara registered -2.8°C and -1.3°C, respectively.
The region is currently enduring ‘Chillai-Kalan,’ the harshest 40-day phase of winter, which began on December 21. This period is synonymous with frigid temperatures, frequent snowfall, and frozen water bodies, making it the coldest and most challenging part of the season. Chillai-Kalan is expected to conclude on January 30, after which slightly milder conditions are anticipated.
In the Jammu division, minimum temperatures were comparatively warmer yet continued to reflect the seasonal chill. Jammu city recorded 8.5°C, while Banihal and Batote noted -1.4°C and 3.5°C, respectively. The holy town of Katra registered a minimum of 9.1°C, slightly below its seasonal average.
The Meteorological Department has forecast primarily dry weather across Kashmir until January 19. However, there is a possibility of very light snow at isolated to scattered locations in Jammu and Kashmir between January 20 and 23. The weather is expected to turn dry again from January 24 and remain so for the following three days.
These fluctuating temperatures, coupled with the ongoing Chillai-Kalan, emphasize the winter’s intensity in Kashmir, offering both picturesque snow-clad landscapes and challenging living conditions for residents and tourists alike.
