The freezing cold continued across Kashmir valley with Awantipora in South Kashmir remaining the coldest in the valley with temperatures dropping down to minus 8.3 degrees Celsius.
According to Kashmir weather- a credible independent body monitoring weather conditions in the Himalayan region, Srinagar- the capital city of Kashmir recorded the minimum temperature of minus 5.8 degrees.
The 40-day period of Chillai Kalan- which is believed to be the period of extreme cold in the Kashmir valley. Chillai-Kalan is the 40-day period of extreme winter. It begins on December 21 and ends on January 31 next year.
Chillai-Kalan is followed by a 20-day long Chillai-Khurd (small cold) that occurs between January 31 and February 19 and a 10-day long Chillai-Bachha (baby cold) which is from February 20 to March 2.
Kashmir weather reported the minimum temperatures in Qazigund dropped down to minus 6.0°C and in Pahalgam the minimum temperature recorded was minus 7.4°C.
In South Kashmir, people said that the water lines are jammed and the taps have frozen. The temperatures in Shopian dropped to minus 7.7, Kokernag recorded minus 5.9, Kulgam minus 4.6°C, Pulwama minus 6.1°C, Anantnag town minus 7.2°C. Pampore township recorded minus 7.5°C.
In North Kashmir, residents said that besides frozen pipes, several small water bodies are frozen too. Here the minimum temperature was recorded in Kupwara where the mercury dropped down to minus 6.1 degrees. In Gulmarg, the minimum temperature was minus 5.5°C, In Bandipora minus 5.1°C, Baramulla recorded a low of minus 4.8°C.
Budgam in Central Kashmir reported the minimum temperature of minus 5.9°C
In Jammu division, the temperatures rose slightly than the last night. Jammu city recorded 3.2°C, Kathua = 2.6°C, Udhampur -1.6°C, Reasi recorded 1.4°C, Samba recorded -0.3°C.
In Chenab valley, the temperature dropped down to minus 1.8°C. In Kishtwar, the minimum temperature recorded was 1.5°C.
The mercury in Leh district of Ladakh dropped down to minus 13.9°C. In Thoise minus 17.0 degree Celsius . Kargil recorded a low of minus 11.5°C. Drass was the coldest in Ladakh division where the mercury dropped to minus 19 degree Celsius .
Meanwhile a meteorological department official upon being contacted by The Kashmiriyat said that dry and freezing conditions are likely to continue across the region till December 22. “There’s a probability of light to moderate snowfall from December 22 to December 25,” the official said.
“Back-to-back Western Disturbances will arrive in Jammu Kashmir after 22 Dec and they will have a huge impact upon the weather conditions,” the official said.