Srinagar- A cold wave continued to grip Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh on Friday, with several places recording sub-zero temperatures, while Dal Lake and Wular Lake froze at multiple locations due to persistent freezing conditions, officials said.
According to details, south Kashmir’s Pulwama and Shopian recorded the lowest minimum temperatures at minus 8.0 degrees Celsius and minus 8.2 degrees Celsius respectively, both marginally colder than the previous day. Srinagar recorded a minimum temperature of minus 5.7 degrees Celsius, slightly higher than Thursday’s minus 6.0 degrees, though still well below the seasonal average.
Qazigund saw the mercury dip to minus 6.3 degrees Celsius, while Pahalgam recorded a low of minus 7.8 degrees Celsius. Other areas, including Gulmarg at minus 6.8 degrees Celsius and Sopore at minus 7.6 degrees Celsius, also remained under freezing conditions.
In the Jammu region, temperatures dropped in several areas compared to the previous day. Jammu city recorded a minimum of 3.6 degrees Celsius, while Bhaderwah registered minus 2.8 degrees Celsius. Samba and Rajouri recorded minus 1.6 degrees Celsius each. Katra, however, saw a slight improvement, with the minimum temperature settling at 5.2 degrees Celsius.
Ladakh continued to reel under severe cold conditions, with Drass remaining the coldest place at minus 24.6 degrees Celsius. Nyoma recorded minus 20.3 degrees, Padum minus 19.6 degrees, and Leh remained steady at minus 14.4 degrees Celsius. Hanle saw a further drop to minus 17.0 degrees, while Kargil and Nubra Valley recorded minus 13.7 degrees and minus 13.5 degrees respectively.
The prolonged cold led to the freezing of parts of several water bodies across the Valley. Srinagar’s Dal Lake was partially frozen, while Wular Lake, the largest freshwater lake in India, froze at multiple spots, restricting the movement of locals and tourists due to thick ice.
Kashmir is currently in the midst of ‘Chilla-i-Kalan’, the harshest 40-day winter period, which began on December 21 and will continue until January 30. During this phase, temperatures often plunge sharply and the chances of snowfall are considered highest. However, the plains of the Valley have not witnessed any snowfall so far this season.
Meanwhile, the Meteorological Department said no significant weather activity is expected in Jammu and Kashmir until January 21. It added that light snowfall may occur at isolated higher reaches on January 22 and 23, while minimum temperatures are likely to rise by one to two degrees Celsius after January 10. Dense fog is also expected at a few places in the Jammu division over the next five days.
