Cold wave intensifies in Kashmir Valley

Cold wave tightened its grip in Kashmir Valley and Ladakh region today as the mercury went down across the division owing to continuous dry weather, which has also resulted in increase in common ailments like cough and cold.
The mercury plunged by over seven degrees Celsius in Leh town in the frontier Ladakh region of Jammu and Kashmir as it settled at a low of minus 14.5 degrees Celsius compared to minus 7.4 the previous night, an official of the Meteorological Department here said.
He said Leh was the coldest recorded place in the state.
The night temperature also decreased in nearby Kargil town as the mercury there settled at minus 13.8 degrees Celsius against the previous night's minus 12.0, the official said.

He said Srinagar, the state's summer capital, recorded a low of minus 4.0 degrees Celsius, down by nearly a degree from the previous night. Night temperature also went down by a degree in Qazigund, the gateway town to the Valley, where the mercury settled at a low of minus 3.2 degrees Celsius.
The mercury registered a drop of over two notches in the famous tourist resort of Pahalgam, which also serves as a base camp during the annual Amarnath Yatra, as it recorded a low of minus 5.8 degrees Celsius compared to the previous night's minus 3.4, the official said.

The famous ski-resort of Gulmarg recorded a low of minus 6.0 degrees Celsius against minus 5.6 the previous night. He said Kupwara town in north Kashmir recorded a low of minus 3.6 degrees Celsius, a notch below the previous night's minus 2.6.

The minimum in Kokernag in south Kashmir settled at minus 1.6 degrees Celsius, the official said.
The Meteorological Department has predicted mainly dry weather for the most part of Chillai-Kalan, the 40-day harshest winter period ending January 31.
It has said Kashmir may witness a dry January like last year with less chances of snowfall during the remaining days of the month.