Cold Deepens

Srinagar, Jan 13: Kashmir witnessed a fresh spell of cold on Tuesday after a brief improvement in minimum temperatures, while meteorologists said snowfall is likely from January 18.

Srinagar recorded a low of minus 4.9 degrees Celsius, down from minus 2.4 degrees Celsius on Monday, while temperatures at Srinagar Airport dropped to minus 5.8 degrees Celsius from minus 3.4 degrees Celsius.

South Kashmir bore the brunt of the winter chill, with Pulwama among the coldest locations at minus 6.6 degrees Celsius, with little change from Monday’s minus 6.5 degrees Celsius.

Shopian fell to minus 6.3 degrees Celsius from minus 5.2 degrees Celsius, while Anantnag dropped to minus 6.1 degrees Celsius from minus 3.9 degrees Celsius.

Qazigund recorded minus 5 degrees Celsius, down from minus 3.6 degrees Celsius, and Pahalgam slid to minus 6.2 degrees Celsius from minus 3.4 degrees Celsius.

“Chillai Kalan without snow feels colder. Over the past few years, we have been experiencing a largely snowless winter,” said Abdul Rasheed Mir of Pulwama.

He said there appeared to be no let-up in the cold conditions this winter.

Mir said that Pulwama, which is usually warmer than many other areas, had emerged as one of the coldest places in Kashmir.

In north Kashmir, minimum temperature in Kupwara fell to minus 5.8 degrees Celsius from minus 3.7 degrees Celsius, Sopore to minus 6.5 degrees Celsius from minus 4.3 degrees Celsius and Zethan Rafiabad to minus 5.9 degrees Celsius from minus 4.5 degrees Celsius.

Baramulla was relatively warmer at minus 1.4 degrees Celsius, compared to minus 3.4 degrees Celsius a day earlier.

Central Kashmir also saw a sharp drop, with Budgam recording minus 5.3 degrees Celsius from minus 2.6 degrees Celsius and Pampore falling to minus 4.5 degrees Celsius from minus 2 degrees Celsius.

Gulmarg ski resort remained largely steady at around minus 3.5 degrees Celsius, while Sonamarg recorded the steepest fall, plunging to minus 7 degrees Celsius from minus 2.4 degrees Celsius.

Minimum temperatures largely dropped by two to four degrees across most stations, signalling a renewed intensification of the cold wave across Kashmir.

IMD officials at the Srinagar centre said snowfall is likely between January 18 and January 20.

“A feeble Western Disturbance is expected to approach J&K on January 15, which may bring light snowfall over the higher reaches of Kashmir,” the officials said. However, they said that light to moderate snowfall was likely in many parts of Kashmir between January 18 and January 21.