Srinagar, Dec 20 : Sub-zero temperatures showed no signs of relenting on Tuesday as Kashmir Valley braces up for one of the harshest winter periods of 40 days, called Chillai Kalan beginning on December 21.
The bone-chilling cold period is followed by a 20-day-long โChillai Khurdโ and 10-day-long โChillai Bachaโ.
A meteorological department official here told that Srinagar recorded a low of minus 3.4ยฐC against the previous nightโs minus 3.1ยฐC. While the mercury was 1.9ยฐC below normal during this time of the year, it was only two notches less that than this seasonโs lowest of minus 3.6ยฐC recorded on Friday last, the official said.
Qazigund recorded a low of minus 3.6ยฐC against minus 3.2ยฐC on the previous night. The temperature was 2.0ยฐC below normal for the gateway town of Kashmir, he said.
He said that Pahalgam recorded a low of minus 5.4ยฐC against minus 4.8ยฐC on previous night and it was 1.0ยฐC below normal for the famous tourist resort in south Kashmirโs Anantnag district.
Kokernag recorded a low of minus 1.8ยฐC, the same as on the previous night and it was 0.1ยฐC below normal for the place, he said.
Gulmarg recorded a low of minus 4.0ยฐC against minus 2.5ยฐC on the previous night, the official said. It was 0.8ยฐC above normal for the world famous skiing resort in north Kashmirโs Baramulla district, the official told GNS.
In Kupwara town, the mercury settled at minus 3.9ยฐC against minus 3.5ยฐC on the previous night, the official said. It was 1.5ยฐC below normal for the north Kashmir place, he said.
Jammu recorded a low of 6.7ยฐC against 7.4ยฐC on the previous night. It was 2.2ยฐC below normal for J&Kโs winter capital, he said. Banihal recorded a low of minus 1.2ยฐC (below normal by 2.7ยฐC), Batote 2.1ยฐC (1.3ยฐC below normal), Katra 7.5ยฐC (0.1ยฐC below normal) and Bhadarwah 0.3ยฐC (0.1ยฐC below normal).
In Ladakh, Leh and Kargil recorded low of minus 11.8ยฐC respectively, the official said.
โThe weather is expected to be dry till December 25,โ the official GNS, adding, โAs per latest model analysis, weather is mostly likely to be cloudy with chances of light to moderate rain/snow over isolated places of Jammu to scattered places of Kashmir specifically over middle & higher reaches during last few days ofย 2022.โย ย (GNS)
