Intense cold conditions prevailed in parts of north India today as the mercury plummeted to minus 15 degrees Celsius in Kargil, while Kashmir valley braced up for possible snowfall over two days from tomorrow.
Kargil in frontier Ladakh region of Jammu and Kashmir had recorded a minimum of minus 10 degrees Celsius yesterday.
A Jammu and Kashmir MeT official said the mercury in nearby Leh, went down by over three degrees, as it recorded a low of minus 12.6 degrees Celsius against the previous night's minus of 9.2 degrees Celsius.
The national capital, however, experienced a relatively warmer day with the minimum temperature settling at 8 degrees Celsius, a degree above the normal for this time of the season. The maximum temperature was recorded at 22.8 degrees Celsius, three notches above the normal.
The Valley is currently under the grip of the 40-day harsh winter period known as 'Chillai-Kalan' which began on December 21 and during which the chances of snowfall are most frequent and maximum.
The cold wave tightened its grip in other places in Kashmir division with Qazigund - the gateway town to the Valley along Srinagar-Jammu National Highway recording the minimum of minus 2.8 degrees Celsius, the official said.
There was some respite from the harsh winter in Srinagar where the minimum temperature settled at minus 2.7 degrees Celsius against yesterday's minus 3.8 degrees Celsius, he said.
Chillai-Kalan ends on January 31, but the cold wave usually 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).
In other parts of north India, Amritsar recorded the lowest temperature in Punjab at 2.8 degrees Celsius.
Narnaul turned out to be the coldest place in Haryana today recording a low of 4.8 degrees Celsius while Hisar also experienced a cold night at 5.8 degrees Celsius.
The MeT office Jammu and Kashmir has said that there is possibility of light snowfall in the plains and moderate snowfall in the higher reaches of the Valley over two days from tomorrow.
The state government has asked the administration to gear up for providing uninterrupted essential services to people during the anticipated snowfall in the Valley.
Keylong and Kalpa in tribal Lahaul and Spiti and Kinnaur
districts recording a low of minus 7.9 degrees Celsius and minus 0.4 degrees Celsius while key tourist resort of Manali recorded minimum temperature of 3.2 degrees Celsius.
A warning of heavy rains or snow at isolated places in Himachal Pradesh was issued by the MeT office here and avalanche threat loomed large over high altitude tribal areas and other higher hills of the state.
Minimum temperatures today stayed several notches above normal in most parts of Punjab and Haryana, even as dense fog at many places affected rail, road and air traffic.
Union territory Chandigarh, the joint capital of the two states, registered its minimum at 9.7 degrees Celsius, three notches above normal, a MeT department official said here.
Amritsar recorded a low of 7 degrees Celsius, up three degrees while Ludhiana and Patiala braved cold weather at 9.9 and 8.8 degrees Celsius respectively, up to four notches above normal.
In Haryana, Karnal registered a low of 6.8 degrees Celsius, down one notch against normal while Narnaul's minimum was 11.6 degrees Celsius, six degrees above normal.
In Rajasthan, Sriganganagar was the coldest place with a minimum temperature of 6.7 degrees Celsius, followed by the hill station of Mount Abu which braved cold weather at 8.4 degrees Celsius.
In Bihar, Patna witnessed a foggy morning followed by a bright sunny day, with the maximum temperature settling at 24.2 degrees Celsius.
