Srinagar- After a brief respite, cold conditions tightened their grip on Kashmir as night temperatures dropped and settled below the freezing point at most places in the Valley, officials said on Friday.
Pulwama town in south Kashmir emerged as the coldest recorded place, registering a minimum temperature of minus 4 degrees Celsius on Thursday night.
Srinagar recorded a low of minus 2.1 degrees Celsius, nearly two degrees lower than the previous night’s 0.2 degrees Celsius, the officials said.
A thick layer of fog engulfed Srinagar and several other parts of the Valley during the early morning hours, particularly near water bodies, affecting visibility.
Pampore and Shopian both recorded minimum temperatures of minus 3.5 degrees Celsius, while Baramulla dipped to minus 3.6 degrees Celsius. Kupwara recorded minus 2.8 degrees Celsius, down from minus 1.0 degrees Celsius a day earlier.
Gulmarg recorded a minimum of 1.0 degree Celsius, slightly lower than the previous day, while Pahalgam settled at minus 2.6 degrees Celsius. Kokernag and Kulgam recorded 0.5 degrees Celsius and 0.9 degrees Celsius respectively.
In the Jammu region, Jammu city recorded a minimum temperature of 9.9 degrees Celsius, while Jammu airport registered 11.1 degrees Celsius. Banihal recorded 3.5 degrees Celsius and Bhaderwah 2.3 degrees Celsius.
In Ladakh, Leh recorded a minimum temperature of minus 4.6 degrees Celsius, compared to minus 3.4 degrees Celsius a day earlier.
The Kashmir Valley is bracing for the onset of Chillai-Kalan, the harshest 40-day winter period, beginning on December 21 and ending on January 30. The period is traditionally associated with the coldest temperatures and the highest chances of snowfall.
So far, the Valley has not witnessed any major wet spell this winter, officials said.
The prolonged dry weather has led to a rise in seasonal ailments such as cough and common cold.
Meteorological officials said the next 24 hours are likely to remain largely dry, with only isolated chances of precipitation at a few places. However, from Saturday evening, cloudy weather is expected to set in across the region, followed by rain in the plains and snowfall over higher reaches.
According to the MeT, fairly widespread rainfall in the plains and snowfall in higher reaches is likely on Sunday, particularly in north Kashmir. Upper reaches of north Kashmir are expected to receive snowfall, while plains of Kupwara may receive 2 to 3 inches of snow. Srinagar is likely to receive 1 to 2 inches of snowfall during the period.
Parts of central Kashmir may also witness similar conditions, with snowfall in isolated areas. Another weak western disturbance is likely to affect the region around December 22.
Weather conditions are expected to remain mostly dry but cloudy from December 22 to December 24, after which dry weather is likely to prevail till December 28, officials said.
People, especially those travelling to higher reaches, have been advised to remain cautious during the period of expected snowfall.
