An intense cold wave has tightened its grip over Kashmir, bringing the season's coldest night to the valley. Officials reported a significant and widespread drop in minimum temperatures, leading to the freezing of fringes on several water bodies, including the iconic Dal Lake in Srinagar.
Record Low Temperatures Grip the Valley
On Wednesday night, Srinagar, the summer capital of Jammu and Kashmir, recorded a bone-chilling low of minus 5.1 degrees Celsius. This marked a sharp drop of 3.5 degrees from the previous night's minus 1.6 degrees Celsius and was a substantial 3.2 degrees below the normal temperature for this season.
The cold was even more severe in popular tourist destinations. Sonamarg in Ganderbal district was the coldest recorded place in the union territory, shivering at minus 9.8 degrees Celsius. The famous ski resort of Gulmarg in Baramulla district saw the mercury settle at a low of minus 9.2 degrees Celsius, its lowest so far this winter. Similarly, Pahalgam in south Kashmir recorded a minimum temperature of minus 8.6 degrees Celsius.
Gateway Town and Other Areas See Sharp Drop
The cold conditions were pervasive across the region. Qazigund, often called the gateway to the Kashmir Valley, witnessed its minimum temperature plunge by over five degrees to hit minus 5.4 degrees Celsius, the season's coldest for the town. Other areas like Kokernag and Kupwara recorded lows of minus 3 degrees Celsius and minus 5.1 degrees Celsius respectively.
The dramatic fall in temperatures has led to visible effects, with the edges of several lakes and water bodies turning to ice. This transformation, while adding a stark beauty to the landscape, underscores the severity of the ongoing cold spell.
‘Chilla-i-Kalan’ and the Dry Weather Forecast
Kashmir is currently in the midst of ‘Chilla-i-Kalan’, the traditional 40-day period of harsh winter that began on December 21 and will continue until January 30. This phase is characterized by sub-zero night temperatures and the highest likelihood of snowfall.
However, in a twist this season, the plains of the valley have remained devoid of any snowfall so far. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has forecast that the weather is likely to stay dry but cloudy until January 20. Furthermore, the IMD has indicated that night temperatures are expected to see a significant fall across the valley until January 10, suggesting the intense cold conditions will persist.
The ongoing freeze presents a challenging time for residents while simultaneously creating the picturesque winter scenes that attract tourists, evident in activities like 'shikara' rides on the partially frozen Dal Lake.
