Intense cold conditions prevail in Kashmir

Kashmir and Ladakh regions experienced bone chilling cold conditions with the mercury staying below the freezing point in the region.
The bright winter sunshine, which was witnessed over the past week, eluded the citizens today due to a cloud cover but the Meteorological department predicted no change in the weather condition in the week ahead.
Srinagar, the summer capital of Jammu and Kashmir, recorded a low of minus 3 degrees Celsius, which is three degrees below normal, and down from the previous night's minus 2.3 degrees Celsius, an official of the MET department said here.
The day temperature recorded in Srinagar yesterday was 12.8 degrees Celsius, which was four degrees above normal.

The night temperature in Qazigund, the gateway town to Kashmir Valley, also registered a dip to settle at minus 2.2 degrees Celsius compared to previous night's 1.8 degrees Celsius, the official said.
He said the north Kashmir town of Kupwara recorded a low of minus 2 degrees Celsius, adding Kokernag town, in south, registered a low of minus 0.8 degree Celsius.

However, the official said, the mercury in the famous ski-resort of Gulmarg in north Kashmir increased by a degree to settle at minus 5 degrees Celsius.
The hill resort, a star attraction for tourists visiting the valley during winter, has recorded a low of minus 6 yesterday.

He said Pahalgam hill resort in south, which serves as the base camp for the annual Amarnath yatra during summer, recorded a low of minus 5.1 degrees Celsius.
The minimum temperature in Kargil town of Ladakh region marked an improvement of a degree compared to the previous night to settle at minus 12.6 degrees Celsius, making it the coldest recorded place in Jammu and Kashmir.
The nearby Leh town, also in the cold desert of Ladakh, recorded a low of minus 11.7 degrees Celsius against yesterday's minus 13.3 degrees Celsius, the official said.
The official said the weather is likely to remain mainly dry over the week ahead and the night temperature may drop further in the Valley and Ladakh region.