Srinagar, Dec 02: The minimum temperatures plummeted across Kashmir, with most places recording sub-zero night temperatures amid a continuing cold wave, officials said on Tuesday. The meteorological department forecasted light snowfall in the higher reaches later this week.
Srinagar recorded a low of minus 2.5°C on Monday night, down from minus 1.9°C the previous night, marking one of the coldest nights of the season so far.
Officials said the persistent drop in temperature has increased early-morning frost and intensified cold conditions across the Valley.
According to the MeT department, south Kashmir’s Shopian remained the coldest place in the Valley with a minimum temperature of minus 5°C.
In Qazigund, the gateway town to the Valley, the mercury settled at minus 2.4°C, while north Kashmir’s Kupwara recorded a low of minus 3.1°C. Kokernag in south Kashmir registered a minimum of minus 0.6°C.
Tourist destinations also witnessed a sharp dip. Pahalgam recorded a low of minus 2.2°C, while the famous skiing resort of Gulmarg settled at 0 °C, the officials said.
A light spell of fresh snowfall was reported around Zojila Pass along the Srinagar–Kargil road on Sunday night, providing an early hint of the approaching winter weather cycle.
The MeT office said that while dry weather is likely to prevail till Wednesday, a brief spell of light snowfall at isolated places in the higher reaches is expected towards the late night of Thursday and early Friday.
Director MeT Dr Mukhtar Ahmad told Rising Kashmir that weather conditions are expected to oscillate between cloudy spells and brief snowfall over the next two weeks.
He said that on Dec 4–5, the weather will remain generally cloudy from the evening of Dec 4, with a possibility of a brief spell of light snow at isolated higher reaches late night on Dec 4 or early morning on Dec 5.
Mukhtar said again, from Dec 6–7, the weather will remain generally dry. On Dec 8, there will be partly to generally cloudy with a chance of light snow at isolated higher reaches.
Meanwhile, authorities issued a weather advisory, cautioning that shallow to moderate fog is likely to continue at many places in Kashmir Division and at isolated locations in Jammu Division, potentially affecting visibility during early morning and evening hours.
