Mercury drops in JK, Ladakh

Srinagar, Feb 11: Night temperatures dropped further in Kashmir as Gulmarg, the world famous skiing resort, remained the coldest place in Kashmir Valley on Friday, officials said.
A meteorological department official here said that Srinagar, the summer capital of the J&K, recorded a low of minus 2.2°C against last night’s minus 0.1°C, he said.
Qazigund, the gateway town of Kashmir, witnessed a low of minus 3.3°C against minus 2.0°C on the previous night, he said.
Kokernag, also in south Kashmir, had a low of minus 3.6°C against minus 2.7°C on the previous night, the official said.
Pahalgam, the famous resort in south Kashmir, recorded a low of minus 9.4°C against minus 8.5°C last night, he said.
Gulmarg recorded a low of minus 10.2°C against minus 10.4°C on the previous night, he said.
The temperature was 4.0°C below normal for this time of the year in the famous resort in north Kashmir’s Baramulla district, he said.
Kupwara town in north Kashmir recorded a low of minus 3.9°C against minus 1.9°C on the previous night, the official said.
While the ‘Chillai Kalan’, the 40-day long harshest period of winter ended on January 30, Kashmir is under the grip of the 20-day long ‘Chillai Khurd’ which would be followed by 10-day-long ‘Chilla Bachha’.
Jammu recorded a low of 5.3°C against previous night’s 7.1°C, the official said. The temperature was 4.8°C below normal for the J&K’s winter capital during this time of the year, he said.
Banihal recorded a low of 2.8°C, Batote had a minimum of 1.6°C while Bhaderwah recorded a low of minus 1.2°C, the official said.
Ladakh’s Leh recorded a low of minus 15.8°C against last night minus 15.0°C while mercury at automatic station in Kargil settled at minus 18.0°C. Drass, the second coldest place in the world after Siberia, recorded a low of minus 25.2°C against last night’s minus 22.9°C, official said. The weatherman has forecast dry weather for next few days. (GNS)