Chill continues though night temp improve ahead of rain-snow in J&K
Srinagar, Dec 26 : Chilly weather conditions continued as night temperature witnessed a surge though it was still below normal in the Kashmir valley, including summer capital, Srinagar, where sun was playing hide and seek on Saturday.
People in Ladakh region continued to shiver under severe cold due to below freezing temperature while Skardu in Pakistan Occupied Kashmir (POK) was coldest at minus 8.6 degree minimum temperature.
A Met department spokesman said that there could be isolated light snow over upper reaches of Jammu and Kashmir, Ladakh region and Gilgit and Baltistan in POK during the next 24 hours. The weather will be mainly dry in plains, he said adding during the subsequent two days there could be widespread moderate rain and snow in south Kashmir from Pirpanchal range from Bhaderwah in Jammu region to Gulmarg in north Kashmir.
Though there was a surge of 0.6 degree in the minimum temperature it was still below normal in Srinagar. Against yesterdays minus 4.3 degree, the minimum temperature in the summer capital was minus 3.7 degree, 1.4 notches below normal. Majority water bodies, including Dal Lake, near banks, remained frozen.
He said there could be light to moderate snow in the evening on Sunday and the maximum and minimum temperatures would be around 7 degree and 5 degree respectively during the next 24 hours.
There was no change in the night temperature at world famous ski resort of Gulmarg, where skiers, tourists and other adventure lovers are arriving daily from different parts of the country and abroad. A number of ski courses are also being held on the world famous slopes. The maximum temperature yesterday was 3.4 degree.
Pahalgam, a health resort in south Kashmir, witnessed some improvement in the minimum temperature. It was minus 4.5 degree against yesterdays minus 5.9 degree, which was 0.9 degree below normal.
He said Qazigund and Kokernag in south Kashmir recorded minus 4 degree minimum temperature while it was Kupwara minus 3.6 degree.
Leh and Kargil in Ladakh region witnessed minor drop in the minimum temperature. Against yesterdays minus 13.3 degree, it was minus 13.6 degree at Leh while at Kargil it was 17.4 degree against Saturday’s minus 16.4 degree.
He said the sky would be mainly clear to generally cloudy and the maximum and minimum temperature would be around minus one and minus 14 degree respectively in Leh during the next 24 hours.