Weatherman on Monday forecast widespread light to moderate rain and snow during February 22-23 even as night temperature dropped to below freezing point in Kashmir Valley, officials said.
“Widespread light to moderate rain/snow, mainly over higher reaches most likely during February 22-23 with main activity on February 22 (night) and February 23,” said a meteorological department official here, adding, “It may affect highways like Jammu-Srinagar, Sinthan Top, Sadhna Top etc.” After this spell, the official said, there’s no forecast of any major rain or snow for the next 10 days.
Meanwhile, the official told GNS that Srinagar, the summer capital of the J&K, recorded a low of minus 2.2°C against last night’s 0.1°C. The temperature was below 3.1°C than the normal for this time of the year, he said.
Qazigund, the gateway town of Kashmir, recorded a low of minus 2.8°C against minus 0.8°C on the previous night, he said.
Kokernag, also in south Kashmir, had a low of 3.0°C against minus 2.6°C on the previous night, the official said.
Pahalgam, the famous resort in south Kashmir, recorded a low of minus 6.0°C against minus 4.3°C last night, he said.
Gulmarg recorded a low of minus 8.0°C, same as on the previous night, he said.
The temperature was 1.3°C below normal for this time of the year in the famous resort in north Kashmir’s Baramulla district, he said.
Kupwara town in north Kashmir recorded a low of minus 3.0°C against minus 2.3°C on the previous night, the official said.
While ‘Chillai Kalan’, the 40-day long harshest period of winter ended on January 30, and 20-day long ‘Chillai Khurd’ culminated on February 19, Kashmir is presently under the grip of 10-day-long ‘Chilla Bachha’.
Jammu recorded a low of 8.1°C, same as on the previous night, the official said. The temperature was 2.5 °C below normal for the J&K’s winter capital during this time of the year, he said.
Banihal recorded a low of 4.6°C, Batote 3.4°C and Bhaderwah 0.8°C, the official said.
Ladakh’s Leh recorded a low of minus 13.5°C against last night minus 10.7°C while mercury at automatic station in Kargil settled at minus 18.2°C. Drass, the second coldest place in the world after Siberia, recorded a low of minus 21.6°C against minus 13.5°C on the previous night, official said. (GNS)