Jammu and Kashmir is experiencing a bitter cold wave, with Srinagar recording a bone-chilling low of -4.4°C on Wednesday. This marks a 0.7°C drop from the previous night’s -3.7°C and is 2.7°C below normal for the summer capital.
The frigid temperatures have caused widespread disruption, with water pipes freezing and water bodies turning to ice in many areas of Srinagar and other districts.
Across the region, minimum temperatures dipped significantly:
- Qazigund: -4.0°C (down from -4.2°C, 2.4°C below normal)
- Pahalgam: -6.3°C (coldest so far this season, down from -6.9°C, 1.9°C below normal)
- Kokernag: -3.3°C (down from -3.1°C, 1.4°C below normal)
- Kupwara: -3.5°C (down from -3.8°C, 1.1°C below normal)
- Gulmarg: -4.4°C (up from -6.6°C, 0.4°C above normal)
Jammu, in contrast, saw a slightly warmer night at 6.4°C (up from 5.7°C, though still 2.5°C below normal).
The Meteorological Department (MeT) predicts “generally mainly dry” and cold weather to persist in Jammu and Kashmir until December 22nd. On December 23rd, there is a possibility of light snow over isolated higher reaches before a dry spell from December 24th to 28th. No significant weather activity is expected until December 28th.
