Sajid Raina
Srinagar, Jan 3: Cold conditions continued across Jammu and Kashmir on Saturday as most parts of the Kashmir Valley and Ladakh recorded sub-zero minimum temperatures, while the Jammu region witnessed comparatively milder weather, officials said.
In the Kashmir region, Gulmarg emerged as the coldest place with a low of minus 6.5 degrees Celsius, followed by Pahalgam at minus 5.2 degrees and Shopian at minus 4.7 degrees.
Srinagar recorded a minimum temperature of minus 1.5 degrees Celsius, while the temperature at Srinagar Airport settled at minus 2.0 degrees. Qazigund and Awantipora recorded lows of minus 2.6 degrees and minus 2.4 degrees, respectively.
Other places in the Valley also experienced freezing nights, with Anantnag recording minus 3.0 degrees, Pulwama minus 3.9 degrees, Kupwara minus 1.6 degrees, and Ganderbal minus 1.6 degrees Celsius.
Baramulla and Bandipora recorded relatively higher minimum temperatures of minus 0.5 degrees and minus 0.2 degrees, respectively.
In the Jammu region, temperatures remained above freezing at most places. Jammu city recorded a minimum of 7.9 degrees Celsius, while Jammu Airport registered 8.8 degrees.
Katra recorded 6.6 degrees, Udhampur 5.0 degrees, and Banihal 2.7 degrees. Bhaderwah was the coldest place in the region, with the mercury dipping to minus 1.5 degrees Celsius.
Ladakh continued to reel under intense cold, with Kargil recording a low of minus 11.2 degrees Celsius, Leh minus 10.6 degrees, and Nubra Valley minus 8.2 degrees.
The Meteorological Department has forecast generally cloudy weather on January 6, with the possibility of light snowfall over isolated higher reaches of north and central Kashmir. From January 7 to 15, the weather is expected to remain partly cloudy.
The department has also warned of dense to very dense fog at a few places over the plains of the Jammu division during the next three days, advising commuters to exercise caution.
