Slight respite from cold as temp increases in Kashmir

Cold wave conditions continued in Kashmir division even as there was slight respite as the mercury went up at most places, with the MeT Department predicting isolated rains or snowfall over the higher reaches of the Valley tomorrow.
Srinagar - the summer capital of Jammu and Kashmir - recorded a low of minus 4.5 degrees Celsius, slightly higher than the previous night's minus 5.1 degrees Celsius, an official of the MET department said.
He said the state capital was the coldest recorded place in the Valley along with the north Kashmir town of Kupwara where the night temperature went up by a degree to settle at a low of minus 4.5 degrees Celsius.

The night temperature in Qazigund - the gateway town to Kashmir Valley - went up from yesterday's minus 4.3 degrees Celsius to settle at a low of minus 3.8 degrees Celsius.
The official said Kokernag, in south Kashmir, recorded a low of minus 2.7 degrees Celsius.
The famous ski-resort of Gulmarg, in north Kashmir, registered a low of minus 1.6 degrees Celsius - an increase of three degrees from the previous night's minus 4.6 degrees Celsius.

Pahalgam hill resort, in south Kashmir, witnessed a low of minus 4.3 degrees Celsius over two degrees up from minus 6.4 degrees Celsius 24 hours earlier, the official said.

Leh, in Ladakh region, was the coldest recorded place in the state as the night temperature there went settled at a low of minus 13.2 degrees Celsius, compared to minus 13. 9 degrees Celsius, the official said.
He said the nearby Kargil town recorded a low of minus 11.5 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.
The Meteorological Department here has forecast isolated rains or snowfall over the higher reaches of the Valley for two days from tomorrow.

'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).