Kashmir in grip of intense cold wave

Srinagar, Jan 22: Minimum temperature recorded a fall in Jammu and Kashmir even as weathermen forecast possibility of wet spell from January 25 to February 1.
A meteorological department official here said that weather is likely to be dry till January 24.
From January 25-26, he said, generally cloudy weather with light snow is expected at isolated higher reaches.
From January 27-28, he said, generally cloudy weather with light rain/snow over scattered places is likely.
From January 2-31, he said, light to moderate rain/snow is “very likely” at many places.
Also, he said, there is possibility of light rain/snow at scattered places on February 1.
“There would be moderate to dense fog and fall in day temperature over plains of Jammu division during next 2 days,” he said.
Regarding night temperature, he said, Srinagar recorded a low of minus 5.3°C against minus 4.8°C on previous night and it was 3.0°C below normal for the summer capital of J&K for this time of the year.
Qazigund recorded a minimum of minus 5.2°C against minus 5.0°C on the previous night, he said. The minimum temperature was 1.3°C below normal for the gateway town of Kashmir, the MeT official said.
Pahalgam recorded a low of minus 6.9°C against minus 6.5°C on the previous night and it was 0.6°C above normal for the famous resort in south Kashmir.
Kokernag, also in south Kashmir, recorded a minimum of minus 2.6°C against minus 2.3°C on the previous night and the temperature was above normal by 1.0°C for the place, the official said.
Kupwara town in north Kashmir recorded a low of minus 6.0°C against minus 5.7°C on the previous night and it was 2.8°C below normal there, the official said.
Gulmarg, the official said, recorded a low of minus 4.0°C against minus 5.0°C on the previous night and the temperature was 44.0°C above normal for the world famous skiing resort in north Kashmir.
Jammu, he said, recorded a minimum of 5.0°C against 5.6°C on the previous night, and it was below normal by 2.0°C for the winter capital of J&K.
Banihal recorded a low of minus 1.0°C, Batote 2.2°C and Bhaderwah minus 0.2°C, he said.
Kashmir valley is under ‘Chillai-Kalan’, the 40-day harsh period of winter, which will end on January 29. However it does not mean an end to the winter. It is followed by a 20-day-long period called ‘Chillai-Khurd’ that occurs between January 30 and February 19 and a 10-day-long period ‘Chillai-Bachha’ (baby cold) which is from February 20 to March 1. (GNS)