While Kashmir is in the midst of the harsh 40-day winter period known as “Chillai-Kalan,” a surprising anomaly has occurred. Overnight cloud cover and warmer air have pushed temperatures above freezing in all major MeT stations except Gulmarg.
Srinagar, the summer capital of J&K, saw a significant jump from -3.3°C the previous night to a balmy 1.2°C, a whopping 2 degrees above average for this time of year. Similar trends were observed in other areas:
Qazigund: 1.4°C (up from -3.3°C) – 3.4 degrees above normal
Pahalgam: 0.2°C (up from -4.8°C) – 5.2 degrees above normal
Kokernag: 1.2°C (up from -3.0°C) – 1.2 degrees above normal
Kupwara: 1.3°C (up from -3.4°C) – 3.9 degrees above normal
Even Gulmarg, the famous skiing resort known for its frigid temperatures, experienced a milder night with -1.5°C compared to -1.0°C the previous night, still 4.3 degrees above average.
While this warm spell is unusual for Chillai-Kalan, it’s important to remember that winter isn’t over yet. After December 26th, generally dry weather is expected, followed by the possibility of light snow on higher reaches on December 27th. However, from December 28th to the end of the month, dry weather is anticipated, offering a temporary respite from the usual harsh winter conditions.
