Mercury dips in most parts of Kashmir Valley

Mercury dipped in most parts of Kashmir Valley while the minimum temperature rose by six degrees in Leh town in the frontier Ladakh region to settle at minus 7.4 degrees Celsius.
Kargil was the coldest place in Jammu and Kashmir though night temperature also rose there slightly to minus 12.0 degrees Celsius compared to the previous night's minus 12.4 degrees Celsius, an official of the Meteorological Department here said.
The official said in the Valley, the minimum temperature increased in Pahalgam and Qazigund, while other places experienced a drop in the mercury.
Srinagar recorded a low of minus 3.1 degrees Celsius against minus 2.9 degrees Celsius the previous night, the official said.

The famous tourist resort of Pahalgam registered a low of minus 3.4 degrees Celsius, rising a notch from the previous night.
The official said that mercury in Qazigund, the gateway town to the Valley, registered a low of minus 2.2 degrees Celsius.

The minimum temperature in Gulmarg and Kokernag town in south Kashmir went down by around a degree to settle at a low of minus 5.6 degrees Celsius and minus 1.3 degrees Celsius respectively.
There was a slight drop in mercury in Kupwara town of north Kashmir as it registered a low of minus 2.6 degrees Celsius, the official said.

The Meteorological Department has predicted mainly dry weather for most part of Chillai-Kalan, the 40-day harshest winter period ending January 31.
It said Kashmir may witness a dry January like the last year with less chances of snowfall during the remaining days of the month.
Chillai-Kalan, which began with winter solstice on December 21 and ends January 31, is the harshest period of winter in Kashmir when chances of snowfall are most frequent and maximum.
However, it has far remained largely dry except for brief spells of light snow in plains on two occasions and moderate snowfall in the higher reaches on a few occasions.

Owing to the dry weather, the minimum temperature in the Valley has mostly hovered below the freezing point and resulted in increase in common ailments.
The 40-day period is followed by a 20-day long 'Chillai-Khurd' (small cold) and a 10-day long 'Chillai Bachha' (baby cold).