Intense cold conditions continued in Jammu Kashmir and Ladakh as Srinagar recorded a low of minus 3.6°C on Wednesday.
A meteorological department official said that the minimum temperature in Srinagar, the summer capital of JK, dropped from the previous night’s 0.2°C and was 1.5°C below the normal for this time of the year.
Gulmarg, the world-famous skiing resort in north Kashmir’s Baramulla district, recorded a drop of nearly 1°C as the mercury settled at minus 11.5°C against minus 10.6°C on the previous night, he said.
Pahalgam, the famous resort in south Kashmir, recorded a low of minus 11.6°C against minus 10.4°C last night, he said.
Kashmir is presently under the grip of a 40-day long harshest period of winter, known locally as ‘Chillai Kalan, which started from December 21.
Qazigund, the gateway town of Kashmir, recorded a low of minus 5.3°C against minus 0.6°C on the previous night, he said.
Kokernag, also in south Kashmir, recorded a low of minus 7.2°C against minus 1.7°C on the previous night, the official said.
Kupwara town in north Kashmir recorded a minimum of minus 5.5°C against minus 3.0°C on the previous night, the official said.
Jammu recorded a low of 5.8°C against the previous night’s 6.2°C which is minus 1.2°C below normal for the J&K’s winter capital during this time of the year, he said.
Banihal recorded a low of minus 3.1°C, Katra minus 0.8°C and Bhaderwah saw a minimum of minus 5.3°C, the official said.
Ladakh’s Leh recorded a low of minus 13.9°C against last night’s minus 12.9°C while the mercury in Kargil settled at minus 14.7°C.
Drass, the second coldest place in the world after Siberia, recorded a low of minus 27.2°C, almost three times lower than the last night’s minus 24.2°C, the official said.
The weatherman has forecast dry weather at most places in Jammu and Kashmir till January 16.
He said there would be a gradual rise in day temperature and a fall in night mercury.
The MeT also urged people putting up in snowbound areas to be wary of avalanches.