J-K: Temperatures below freezing point in most parts of valley, more snowfall likely this week

Gulmarg, a tourist resort town known for skiing activities in north Kashmir, recorded a low of minus 11.5 degree Celsius which was down one and half degrees from the previous night, the Met department said.

The base camp for the annual Amarnath Yatra in Pahalgam, south Kashmir, registered a minimum of minus 8.4 degree Celsius, slightly up from minus 9.2 degrees, it said.

In Srinagar, the mercury dipped to minus 3.5 degrees Celsius on Monday night“ more than two degrees less than the previous night, it added.

Qazigund, the gateway town to Kashmir, logged a minimum temperature of minus 7.5 degrees Celsius, while Konibal in Pampore town also recorded a low of minus 7.5 degree Celsius, the weather office said.

Kupwara in north Kashmir registered 0.1 degrees Celsius while in south Kashmir, Kokernag recorded minus 5.6 degrees Celsius, it said. Kupwara was the only place in the valley where the minimum temperature settled above freezing point last night.

The Met office has forecast light snowfall on the first day of the new year and another spell of moderate snowfall later in the week.

“A feeble western disturbance is likely to hit Kashmir on January 1 and 2. There is a possibility of light snow at scattered places. A moderate to strong Western Disturbance is likely to affect from January 3 to 6. There is a chance of snow at most places with peak activity on 4th to 6th January,” it said, adding there is a possibility of heavy snow at few places in the higher reaches during the second spell.

Kashmir is currently under the grip of ‘Chillai-Kalan’ — the harshest period of winter — which began on December 21.

During the 40 days of Chillai-Kalan, the chances of snowfall are the highest and the temperature drops considerably.

It ends on January 30 next year but the cold wave continues even after that. Chillai-Kalan is followed by a 20-day ‘Chillai-Khurd’ (small cold) and a 10-day ‘Chillai-Bachha’ (baby cold). PTI MIJ SKY SKY