Despite facing harsh winter conditions, Kashmir valley hasn’t seen any improvement in the weather with sub-zero temperatures persisting. Officials expect these to continue for the next few days.
This winter has been marked by a peculiar dryness and lack of snowfall, leading to unusually warm days in Srinagar, exceeding normal January temperatures by over 8 degrees. Meanwhile, Jammu, the winter capital, has experienced colder days than Srinagar, recording a high of only 9 degrees Celsius on Wednesday, 9 degrees below average. Dense fog is currently shrouding Jammu, contributing to the colder temperatures.
Srinagar continued to shiver under biting cold, recording a minimum temperature of minus 5.0 degrees Celsius on Wednesday night, similar to the previous night. Other parts of Kashmir also faced frigid temperatures, with Qazigund at minus 4.6 degrees, Gulmarg at minus 3.5 degrees (warmer than the previous night’s minus 5.0 degrees), and Pahalgam at minus 6.3 degrees. Kokernag recorded a minimum of minus 2.4 degrees Celsius, while Kupwara dipped to minus 5.3 degrees.
Kashmir is currently in the midst of “Chilla-i-Kalan,” a 40-day period of harsh winter known for its extreme cold wave, freezing water bodies and pipes. This period usually sees the highest chances of snowfall, but this year, most areas, especially the plains, have received little to no snowfall, while the higher reaches have seen less than usual snow cover.
Officials report a 79% deficit in rainfall for December and no precipitation in the first week of January. The meteorological department anticipates dry weather to continue until January 12th.
While “Chilla-i-Kalan” ends on January 31st, the cold conditions are expected to persist with the subsequent “Chilla-i-Khurd” (small cold) for 20 days and “Chilla-i-Bachha” (baby cold) for 10 days.
