Srinagar, : Bitter cold returned to Kashmir with areas in south of Valley and Gulmarg recording severe conditions on Friday.
A meteorological department official here told GNS Srinagar recorded a low of minus 0.3°C against 0.2°C on previous night and it was 0.4°C above normal for the summer capital of J&K for this time of the year.
Qazigund recorded a minimum of minus 9.4°C against minus 0.4°C on the previous night, he said. The minimum temperature was 7.3°C below normal for the gateway town of Kashmir, the MeT official said.
He said it was the lowest minimum temperature in Qazigund in February in at-least during the last decade, surpassing minus 9.0°C recorded on 9th of February 2019.
Pahalgam recorded a low of minus 11.9°C against minus 4.1°C on the previous night and it was 5.8°C below normal for the famous resort in south Kashmir. It was 3rd lowest temperature for Pahalgam in the last ten years after minus 12.6°C and minus 12.7°C on 2nd and 9th of February 2020 and 2019 respectively. The all-time lowest minimum temperature for Pahalgam during the February was minus 17.2°C on February 1984.
Kokernag, also in south Kashmir, recorded a minimum of minus 9.4°C against 1.4°C on the previous night and the temperature was below normal by 7.0°C for the place, the official said. It was second lowest minimum temperature since 2014 in Kokernag with previous lowest of minus 9.5 recorded on 1 February 2021 and all-time record of minus 12.3°C on 22-02-1984.
Kupwara town in north Kashmir recorded a low of minus 4.4°C against 0.7°C on the previous night and it was 2.1°C below normal there, the official said.
Gulmarg, the official said, recorded a low of minus 12.0°C against minus 7.6°C on the previous night and the temperature was below normal by 4.4°C for the world famous skiing resort in north Kashmir. It equalled 3rd lowest minimum temperature since ten years in February as minus 13.5°C on 12-02 last year, minus 12.0°C on 4-02-2022 and minus 12.2°C on 1 February 2020 while the all-time record of minus 18.0°C on 04-02-1968.
Jammu, he said, recorded a minimum of 5.7°C and it was below normal by 2.7°C for the winter capital of J&K.
Banihal recorded a low of 6.8°C, Batote 3.8°C and Bhaderwah 5.2°C, he said.
Regarding forecast, a MeT official here said: “3rd-4th Feb: Generally cloudy towards afternoon with possibility of Light to moderate Snow/Rain at many places towards evening till 4th feb evening with chances of heavy snowfall over isolated higher reaches.
Middle and higher reaches of North, Nwestern and South Kashmir may receive 8-12 inches of Snow, lower reaches & plains may receive 3-6 inches, while plains of Central Kashmir may recieve Rain with 1-2 inches of Snow.
Jammu Division may receive Light to moderate Rain with thunder/Lightning with light to moderate snow over higher reaches of Pirpanjal Range and Chenab Valley during the above period.
5th Feb:Partly to Generally cloudy with Possibility of Light Snow over isolated higher reaches.
6th-13th feb: Generally dry weather.”
As ‘Chillai-Kalan’, the 40-day harsh period of winter ended on January 29, Kashmir is presently in the middle of 20-day-long winter period called ‘Chillai-Khurd’ that ends on February 19 and is followed by a 10-day-long period ‘Chillai-Bachha’ (baby cold) which starts from February 20 to March 1. (GNS)
