Srinagar- The Meteorological Centre Srinagar on Wednesday said Jammu and Kashmir is likely to witness largely dry and stable weather conditions till January 22, with no major weather disturbance expected during the period.
According to the weather forecast, the Union Territory will experience partly cloudy conditions from January 7 to January 15. January 16 and 17 may see generally cloudy skies, with the possibility of light rain or snowfall at isolated places in the Kashmir division.
The weather is expected to remain partly to generally cloudy on January 18 and 19. On January 20, generally cloudy conditions are likely, with light snowfall expected at isolated higher reaches of the Kashmir region. January 21 and 22 are forecast to remain partly cloudy.
The Meteorological Centre clarified that no significant weather activity is anticipated across Jammu and Kashmir till January 22.
The department has also issued an advisory warning of a noticeable fall in minimum temperatures till January 10, after which temperatures are likely to rise by 1 to 2 degrees Celsius.
Meteorological officials said cold wave conditions are likely to intensify over the next four days, with minimum temperatures in the Kashmir plains expected to range between minus 4 and minus 9 degrees Celsius.
Higher reaches may see night temperatures between minus 6 and minus 13 degrees, while the Jammu plains are likely to record minimum temperatures between 0 and 6 degrees Celsius.
With the prolonged dry spell continuing, water levels in rivers and streams across the region are expected to keep falling, raising concerns over water availability in the coming weeks.
In addition, moderate fog is expected to prevail over the plains of the Jammu division, with dense fog at isolated locations. This condition is likely to continue for the next five days. Commuters and travellers have been advised to exercise caution during early morning and late evening hours due to reduced visibility.
Minimum temperatures dipped further across the Kashmir Valley, with Sonamarg recording the lowest at minus 10.1 degrees Celsius, followed by Gulmarg at minus 7.6 degrees and Pahalgam at minus 7.2 degrees Celsius. Srinagar recorded a minimum of minus 1.6 degrees, while the airport registered minus 2.2 degrees Celsius, it said.
Other places in the Valley also witnessed sub-zero temperatures, including Kupwara at minus 3.6 degrees, Baramulla at minus 3.0 degrees, Pulwama at minus 5.1 degrees, Shopian at minus 4.3 degrees and Budgam at minus 2.4 degrees Celsius. Qazigund recorded a minimum of 0.1 degrees, while Kokernag settled at minus 2.3 degrees Celsius.
According to details obtained by the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), in the Jammu region, night temperatures remained relatively higher, with Jammu city recording a minimum of 8.7 degrees Celsius and the airport at 9.3 degrees. Bhaderwah, however, recorded a low of minus 2.6 degrees, while Banihal recorded 2.3 degrees and Batote 3.1 degrees Celsius. Katra registered 6.4 degrees, Rajouri 1.0 degree and Kishtwar 0.1 degrees, it added.
In Ladakh, Leh recorded a minimum temperature of minus 13.4 degrees Celsius, while Drass, known as the second coldest inhabited place in the world, plunged to minus 22.8 degrees. Nyoma recorded minus 20.2 degrees, Padum minus 16.8 degrees and Kargil minus 11.6 degrees Celsius.
