Srinagar: Jammu and Kashmir is reeling under severe cold. Temperatures across the valley dropped several degrees below freezing last night. The worst weather conditions were experienced in the higher altitudes. The Zojila Pass recorded a bone-chilling minus 16.0 degrees Celsius, the coldest day of the season.
According to data from the Srinagar Meteorological Center, night temperatures remained below freezing in most parts of Kashmir. According to the Meteorological Department’s daily weather report, the temperature in Srinagar, the summer capital, was minus 3.2 degrees Celsius, the same as the previous night, while the humidity level was around 90 percent at 8:30 am. Officials said that the continuous drop in temperatures and clear night skies are rapidly cooling the surface.
Pampore in South Kashmir recorded a temperature of minus 4.5 degrees Celsius, while Shopian and Pulwama witnessed the sharpest drop in temperatures. These were recorded at minus 5.1 degrees Celsius and minus 5.0 degrees Celsius, respectively. The tourist destination of Pahalgam recorded a low of minus 4.0 degrees Celsius. Kokernag remained comparatively warm with a temperature of minus 0.4 degrees Celsius.
North Kashmir also experienced extreme cold. Baramulla recorded a low of minus 4.6 degrees Celsius, ski destination Gulmarg minus 1.9 degrees Celsius, Bandipora minus 3.3 degrees Celsius, and Kupwara minus 3.2 degrees Celsius.
The cold also spread to central Kashmir. Budgam recorded a low of minus 3.4 degrees Celsius, Srinagar airport minus 3.6 degrees Celsius, Ganderbal minus 2.5 degrees Celsius, and Sonamarg minus 3.2 degrees Celsius. The worst conditions were experienced in the peaks of Ladakh.
The temperature in Nyoma dropped to minus 11.8 degrees Celsius, Drass to minus 10.3 degrees Celsius, Padum to minus 9.3 degrees Celsius, and Kargil to minus 8.6 degrees Celsius. Leh experienced a very cold temperature of minus 8.2 degrees Celsius.
The plains of Jammu remained cold but without frost. Jammu city recorded a minimum of 10 degrees Celsius, Katra 9.2 degrees Celsius, Batote 5.5 degrees Celsius, and Bhaderwah 0.5 degrees Celsius, slightly below the season’s average. The temperature in Banihal dropped to minus 1.2 degrees Celsius, while Rajouri and Kishtwar recorded 3.3 degrees Celsius and 3.9 degrees Celsius, respectively.
Meteorologists at the Meteorological Department’s Srinagar center said that the current dry conditions and long nights are causing temperatures to drop rapidly in the Himalayan region. There is no news of rain in any area in the last 24 hours and the weather is expected to remain mostly dry in the coming days.
