Bitter cold grips Kashmir as temperatures plummet below freezing in several areas. Officials reported Srinagar shivering at a frigid minus 4.6 degrees Celsius on Monday night, a slight dip from the previous night’s minus 4.3 degrees. The icy grip extended to other locations with Qazigund recording minus 4.4 degrees and the popular ski resort of Gulmarg at minus 3.1 degrees. Pahalgam, a crucial base camp for the Amarnath Yatra, registered an even bone-chilling minus 5.4 degrees. Kokernag and Kupwara weren’t spared either, dipping to minus 2.3 degrees and minus 4.4 degrees respectively.
Intriguingly, despite the icy nights, Kashmir is experiencing unusually warm days, a consequence of the largely snowless winter. In Srinagar, temperatures soared eight degrees above average for this time of year. This anomaly is attributed to the ongoing dry spell, with December witnessing a staggering 79% rainfall deficit. January hasn’t fared much better, with most of the region receiving no precipitation in the first half. Snowfall has been scarce, limited to higher reaches and significantly less than usual. The meteorological department predicts dry weather to persist until January 21st.
