Dry spell in Kashmir to end next week: Met

The prevailing dry spell in Kashmir, the longest in nearly the last four decades, is expected to end next week as the Meteorological department here has forecast a spell of rain or snow in the Valley where the night temperature dipped once again in most parts.
"Kashmir is witnessing the longest dry spell since the last 35 to 40 years. There has been negligible amount of rainfall during the last five months," Director Met department, Sonam Lotus, told PTI.
He said the last three months -- October, November and December -- have especially remained dry, apart from a spell of light rainfall and snow in some of the higher reaches on December 12.

The official however said the prevalent dry spell is expected to end next week as there is possibility of rainfall or snow from January 4 to 6.
"We expect a fairly widespread spell of rain or snow from January 4 to 6. The higher reaches may receive moderate rains and snow, while there are chances of light rainfall or snow in the plains as well," the director said.
Meanwhile, a day after slight respite in the prevailing cold wave in Kashmir, the night temperature dipped once again in most parts of the Valley and Ladakh region.

Srinagar -- the summer capital of Jammu and Kashmir -- recorded a low of minus 4.3 degrees Celsius a drop of over a degree from the previous night s minus 3.0 degrees Celsius, an official of the Met department here said.

The official said the night temperature in the city was two degrees below the normal for this time of the season and Srinagar was the coldest place in the Valley.
The mercury went down by nearly three degrees in Leh, in Ladakh region of the state, from the previous night's minus 7.9 degrees Celsius, to settle at a freezing minus 10.7 degrees Celsius.
The town was the coldest recorded place in the state.
The nearby Kargil town registered a low of minus 8.4 degrees Celsius.
Pahalgam hill resort, in south Kashmir, witnessed a low of minus 3.4 degrees Celsius down by over a degree from minus 2.3 degrees Celsius the previous night, the official said.

The night temperature at the famous ski-resort of Gulmarg in north Kashmir, settled at a low of zero degrees Celsius, increasing the chances of fresh snowfall.
The north Kashmir town of Kupwara recorded at low of minus 3.7 degrees Celsius.
The official said the minimum temperature in Qazigund the gateway town to Kashmir Valley was minus 3.4 degrees Celsius, while Kokernag, also in south Kashmir, recorded a low of minus 1.5 degrees Celsius.
Kashmir is currently under the grip of 'Chillai-Kalan' considered the harshest period of winter, when the chances of snowfall are most frequent and maximum and the temperature drops considerably.

However, so far, the weather has remained dry, resulting in increase in ailments like cough and common cold.
'Chillai-Kalan', which began on December 21, ends on January 31 next year, but the cold wave continues even after that.
The 40-day period is followed by a 20-day long 'Chillai-Khurd' (small cold) and a 10-day long 'Chillai-Bachha' (baby cold).