Srinagar: With the arrival of winter, severe cold prevailed in Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh on Wednesday, with temperatures dropping well below freezing in many areas. The Meteorological Department said temperatures remained below freezing throughout the Kashmir Valley. Shopian was the coldest place, dropping to minus 6.2 degrees Celsius, followed by Baramulla at minus 5.9, Pulwama at minus 5.8, and Pampore and Anantnag at minus 5.5.
The minimum temperature in Srinagar was recorded at minus 3.9 degrees, while the outskirts were even colder, with temperatures around Srinagar Airport dropping to minus 4 degrees and Awantipora at minus 5 degrees. Pahalgam, one of the valley’s main tourist destinations, recorded a low of minus 4.6, and Qazigund at minus 3.4. However, Gulmarg remained comparatively warmer.
Zojila Pass Feels the Coldest
The worst conditions were experienced at Zojila Pass, where a chilling minus 16 degrees Celsius was recorded for the third consecutive day. In North Kashmir, temperatures dropped to minus 4 degrees in Kupwara, minus 4.2 in Bandipora, and minus 5 degrees in Rafiabad.
Similar conditions prevailed in districts of Central Kashmir, with Budgam recording a low of minus 4.2, Ganderbal minus 2.8, and Sonamarg minus 3.1. In South Kashmir, Kulgam recorded a low of minus 2.2, while the Kokernag Valley was the coldest with a low of minus 1.4.
Cold Wave Reaches Jammu
The cold wave reached Jammu, where temperatures remained below normal in many areas. Banihal recorded a low of minus 0.7 degrees, while Bhaderwah recorded a low of 0.5 degrees. In high-altitude towns like Batote and Ramban, temperatures hovered between 4 and 5 degrees Celsius.
The weather in the plains of Jammu remained mild, but colder than normal. Jammu city recorded 8.8 degrees Celsius, Udhampur 6 degrees Celsius, and Katra 8.5 degrees Celsius. Rajouri recorded 2.6 degrees Celsius and Samba 3.9 degrees Celsius. Severe cold continued in Ladakh, with Leh recording minus 8.2 degrees Celsius, Kargil minus 9 degrees Celsius, and Nubra minus 6.8 degrees Celsius.
The Meteorological Department said dry weather is expected for the next few days, which could further reduce night temperatures across the region.
