Srinagar: Snowfall has started in some parts of Kashmir even as night temperatures rose across Valley, officials and reports said on Wednesday.
A meteorological department said that Srinagar, the summer capital of the state, recorded a low of minus 2.1 degrees Celsius.
The famous hill resort of Pahalgam recorded a low of minus 4.2 degrees Celsius while Qazigund, the gateway town of Kashmir, saw a low of minus 2.9 degree Celsius while Kokernag, also in south Kashmir, recorded a low of minus 3.0 degrees Celsius.
The MeT official said that the mercury at the famous ski-resort of Gulmarg in north Kashmir settled at minus 6.0 degrees Celsius last night . Kupwara in north Kashmir registered a low of minus 5.6 degree Celsius, the official said.
Reports said there was light snowfall in central Kashmir’s Ganderbal district including Sonamarg, Gagangeer, Kulan, Gund and Kangan areas. Reports of snowfall was received also from Tral in south Kashmir’s Pulwama district. There is cloud cover across the Valley and weatherman has predicted ‘stronger intensity’ snow from January 19 to 23 with main activity on January 22.
Kashmir is currently under the grip of ‘Chillai-Kalan’ the 40-day harshest period of winter when the chances of snowfall are most frequent and maximum and the temperature drops considerably.
‘Chillai-Kalan’ ends on January 31, but the cold wave continues even after that in Kashmir.
The 40-day period is followed by a 20-day long ‘Chillai-Khurd’ (small cold) and a 10-day long ‘Chillai-Bachha’ (baby cold).
