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REGIONAL

Freezing conditions continue in Kashmir; Another spell of snowfall likely

By News Desk

January 17, 2022

With overnight cloud cover amid the forecast for light rain and snowfall till January 19, night temperature further increased in Jammu and Kashmir on Monday.

A meteorological department official said that Srinagar recorded a low of 1.0°C against last night’s minus 1.2°C in the summer capital of the J&K.

Kashmir is presently under the grip of 40-day long harshest period of winter, known locally as ‘Chillai Kalan, which started from December 21. It is followed by a 20-day long ‘Chillai Khurd’ and a 10-day-long ‘Chilla Bachha’.

Gulmarg recorded a low of minus 4.6°C against minus 7.0°C on the previous night, he said. The temperature was 3.1°C above normal for this time of the year in the famous resort in north Kashmir’s Baramulla district.

Pahalgam, the famous resort in south Kashmir, recorded a low of minus 3.6°C against minus 5.4°C last night, he said.

Qazigund, the gateway town of Kashmir, recorded a low of minus 1.0°C against minus 3.4°C on the previous night, he said.

Kokernag, also in south Kashmir, recorded a low of minus 2.0°C against minus 4.5°C on the previous night, the official said.

Kupwara town in north Kashmir recorded a minimum of 0.5°C against minus 2.1°C on the previous night, the official said.

Jammu recorded a low of 9.0°C against the previous night’s 8.4°C which is 1.9°C above normal for the J&K’s winter capital during this time of the year, he said.

Banihal recorded a low of 3.4°C, Katra 7.2°C and Bhaderwah saw a minimum of 1.5°C, the official said.

Ladakh’s Leh recorded a low of minus 13.1°C against last night’s minus 15.2°C while mercury at automatic station in Kargil settled at minus 16.0°C. Drass, the second coldest place in the world after Siberia, recorded a low of minus 16.2°C against last night’s minus 17.4°C, official said.

The weatherman has said that there was no forecast of any major rain or snow till the end of January in J&K.

“Under the influence of feeble Western Disturbance, weather most likely to remain generally cloudy with possibility of very light to light rain/snow in plains of J&K during 16-19th and light to moderate snowfall over higher reaches,” the MeT official said. “As of today, there’s no forecast of any major rain/snow till ending January (accuracy 60-70%).” (GNS)