On Sunday, a new round of snowfall affected many areas of Kashmir, including Srinagar, with temperatures staying below freezing in the summer capital for the second day in a row. Officials reported snowfall in various regions of Bandipora, Baramulla, and Kupwara districts in northern Kashmir, along with sections of Budgam and Ganderbal districts in central Kashmir.
Kashmir remained under the influence of a severe cold wave, with a peak temperature of only 1.5 degrees Celsius noted on Sunday. The temperature has remained under two degrees Celsius for the last 48 hours, with Saturday’s highest reading at 1.2 degrees Celsius.
Officials reported on Sunday that the nighttime temperature in the valley dropped, with Kokernag town in South Kashmir recording a low of minus 8.1 degrees Celsius. In Srinagar, the temperature dropped to a low of minus 2.5 degrees Celsius, a slight increase from the previous night’s minus 2.2 degrees, according to the report by India Meteorological Department (IMD).
Temperatures In Neighbouring Places
Gulmarg, a skiing hotspot in northern Kashmir, recorded a minimum temperature of minus 4.0 degrees Celsius, down from minus 2.2 degrees previously. Pahalgam, a base camp for the Amarnath Yatra, reached minus 3.2 degrees. Qazigund saw minus 3.6 degrees, while Konibal in Pampore hit minus 3.5 degrees. Kupwara recorded minus 2.8 degrees, and Kokernag emerged as the coldest spot in the valley at minus 8.1 degrees Celsius.
Phases Of Winter In Kashmir
Kashmir is presently experiencing ‘Chillai-Kalan’ — the coldest phase of winter — which commenced on December 21. Throughout the 40 days of ‘Chillai-Kalan’, the likelihood of snowfall peaks and the temperature decreases significantly. ‘Chillai-Kalan’ concludes on January 30. This is succeeded by a 20-day period known as ‘Chillai-Khurd (small cold)’ and a 10-day phase referred to as ‘Chillai-Bachha (baby cold)’.
