Srinagar: With overcast conditions, there was an increase in the minimum temperatures across Kashmir division even as the Meteorological department forecast rains or snow across the Valley on Monday.
A Meteorological department official here said that Srinagar, the state’s summer capital, recorded a minimum temperature of minus 1.6 degrees Celsius last night, up from minus 4.8 degrees Celsius on the previous night.
The night temperature in Qazigund, in south Kashmir, was minus 3.8 degrees Celsius against minus 5C on previous night while Pahalgam hill resort recorded a low of minus 3.2C, the official said. Kokermag recoded minimum of minus 2.5C.
He said that Kupwara, in north Kashmir, recorded a low of minus 3.4 C, up one degree from the previous night’s minus 4.2C.
“There is possibility of light rain and snow for next 24 hours,” the official said, adding, “Tomorrow (Tuesday), the possibility of snow and rain increases further.”
Kargil, in Ladakh region, recorded a low of minus 15 C, the official said.
He said that while Kargil continued to be the coldest recorded place in the state, the temperature in nearby Leh settled at minus 14.0 C.
Valley has been going through extremely dry and cold weather conditions this winter, leading to health related problems among the children and elderly.
The region is currently under the grip of Chillai-Kalan a 40-day harshest period of winter when the chances of snowfall are most frequent and maximum and the temperature drops considerably.
It ends on January 30, but the cold wave continues even after that in the valley.
The 40-day period is followed by a 20-day long Chillai- Khurd (small cold) and a 10-day long Chillai-Bachha (baby cold).
