Sajid Raina
Srinagar, Dec 9: Amid the prevailing dry spell, the cold wave intensified across Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh on Monday, with minimum temperatures plummeting sharply.
According to the details available, in the Kashmir, Pulwama recorded the lowest temperature at minus 5.1 degrees Celsius, followed by Shopian at minus 5.0 degrees and Baramulla at minus 4.9 degrees. Pahalgam settled at minus 4.8 degrees, while Srinagar recorded minus 3.7 degrees.
Pampore and Srinagar Airport recorded minus 4.0 degrees, Awantipora minus 4.2 degrees, Budgam minus 4.1 degrees, Qazigund, Bandipora and Kupwara minus 3.6 degrees each.
Gulmarg stood at minus 2.5 degrees, Kokernag minus 0.5 degrees, Ganderbal minus 2.6 degrees, Kulgam minus 0.9 degrees, and Sonamarg minus 4.5 degrees. Zethan Rafiabad recorded minus 5.2 degrees, while Zojila Pass was the coldest at minus 19.0 degrees.
In the Jammu region, temperatures remained above freezing but the chill persisted. Bhaderwah recorded the lowest at 0.9 degrees Celsius, followed by Rajouri at 0.4 degrees.
Jammu city recorded 7.3 degrees, Katra 10.1 degrees, Kathua 7.6 degrees, Jammu Airport 7.5 degrees, Udhampur 2.0 degrees, Samba 2.3 degrees, Banihal 3.7 degrees, Ramban 4.6 degrees, Kishtwar 4.2 degrees, Doda 5.4 degrees, Batote 6.6 degrees, and Reasi 6.5 degrees.
In Ladakh, the deep freeze continued with Leh recording minus 8.5 degrees, Kargil minus 7.2 degrees, and Nubra Valley minus 6.0 degrees. Officials said minimum temperatures are likely to fall further over the next few days if the dry spell continues.
The Meteorological Department said generally cloudy weather is expected across Jammu and Kashmir on Monday, with partly cloudy conditions likely over the next few days.
The MeT office said weather is expected to remain partly cloudy from December 10 to 12, with a possibility of light snowfall over some higher reaches of north and central Kashmir between December 13 and 15.
Partly cloudy conditions are likely from December 16 to 18, followed by generally cloudy weather with chances of light snowfall at isolated higher reaches from December 19 to 21. (KNO)
