Slight relief from intense cold conditions in Kashmir

There was an improvement in the minimum temperature at most places in Kashmir division, including Ladakh region, providing relief to residents from intense cold conditions today, even as the Valley is bracing up for a possible spell of wet weather later this week.
The mercury in Srinagar, the summer capital of Jammu and Kashmir, rose over two notches from the previous night's minus 5.5 degrees Celsius to settle at a low of minus 3.3 degrees Celsius, an official of the MET Department here said.
He said the night temperature in Qazigund, the gateway town to Kashmir Valley settled at a low of minus 3.9 degrees Celsius from previous night's minus of 4.8 degrees Celsius.

The hill resort of Pahalgam in south Kashmir, which serves as the base camp for annual Amarnath yatra, recorded a low of minus 5.9 degrees Celsius against yesterday's minus 7.1 degrees Celsius, the official said.
However, the minimum temperature in the famous ski-resort of Gulmarg in north Kashmir, the star attraction for tourists visiting the Valley during winter, went down a degree to settle at minus 4.5 degrees Celsius, the official said.
Kupwara town in north Kashmir recorded the minimum of minus 5.1 degrees Celsius, while the mercury in Kokernag, in south, settled at a low of minus 1.8 degrees Celsius, he said.

The night temperature in Leh and Kargil towns of Ladakh region also marked an improvement of more than a degree.

The mercury in Leh settled at a low of minus 14.7 degrees Celsius against the previous night's low of minus 15.8 degrees Celsius, the official said.
He said Kargil recorded a low of minus 15 degrees Celsius, up from minimum of minus 16.6 degrees Celsius the previous night.
The Meteorological Department has said the prevalent dry weather in the Valley is likely to end as there is possibility of rains or snowfall for few days from January 28.
There is a chance of snowfall in the region especially in the higher reaches of the Valley during this period especially at the end of the month which would coincide with the culmination of Chillai-Kalan, the 40-day harshest winter period.

Chillai-Kalan, which began on December 21 and ends on January 31, is the period of winter when the chances of snowfall are usually most frequent and maximum.
The 40-day period is followed by a 20-day long 'Chillai-Khurd' (small cold) and a 10-day long 'Chillai Bachha' (baby cold).