Respite from intense cold wave conditions in Kashmir

Residents of Kashmir got respite from intense cold wave conditions as the mercury settled closer to the freezing point in Srinagar, a Meteorological (MeT) Department official said on Sunday.

The mercury continued its upward trend as the minimum temperature in the city settled at minus 0.2 degrees Celsius compared to minus 3 degrees the previous night, the official said.

He said the mercury in Qazigund, the gateway town to the valley in south Kashmir, settled at a low of minus 0.7 degrees Celsius, an increase of nearly six degrees from the previous night's minus 6.4 degrees Celsius.

The night temperature in Pahalgam tourist resort in south Kashmir settled at a low of minus 3 degrees Celsius, an increase of over one degrees from minus 4.2 degrees Celsius on Saturday.

The night temperature in Kokernag, in south, settled at a low of minus 2 degrees Celsius, while no data was available for Gulmarg and Kupwara weather stations in north Kashmir, the official added.

The MeT Office has forecast scattered light rains or snow in the valley over next 72 hours.