Dry spell to prevail in Kashmir Valley till Jan 21

PTI

Srinagar/Jammu, January 14

Cold wave conditions returned to Kashmir as the mercury plunged several degrees below freezing point after a day’s respite provided by a feeble western disturbance on Saturday, officials said on Sunday.

The Meteorological Department has forecast mainly dry weather till January 21.

A dry and largely snowless winter in Kashmir has resulted in freezing nights and warmer than usual days as Srinagar’s day temperatures were over eight degrees above the normal for this time of the year.

Winter vacation extended in Jammu

• In the wake of harsh winter conditions, the Directorate of School Education, Jammu, has extended the winter vacations for schools located in the summer zone of Jammu Division till January 17
• Earlier, the vacations were extended till January 13 as the schools were supposed to open on January 8. “It is further ordered that the timing of the schools shall be from 11 am to 3 pm during the extended vacations,” reads the order

Srinagar city recorded a minimum temperature of minus 4.2°C on Saturday night, 4.4 degrees less than Friday's 0.2°C.

Jammu, the winter capital of Jammu and Kashmir, recorded the coldest night of the season with the minimum temperature plummeting 4.5 notches below normal to settle at 2.5°C, they said. The maximum temperature in Jammu also dipped to settle at 8.9°C, which was 9 degrees Celsius below normal for this part of the season. The maximum temperature in the city was found to be lower than Gulmarg, Pahalgam, Kokernag, Sonamarg, Leh, Drass and Srinagar.

Jammu is reeling under extreme severe cold wave over the past fortnight with the mercury hovering several notches below normal due to foggy conditions in the morning hours and absence of the Sun during the day. Foggy weather has also hit the rail and air traffic, causing inconvenience to the passengers.

Samba recorded a minimum temperature of 3°C and a maximum temperature of 13°C, the MeT department said.

Rajouri recorded the highest temperature in Jammu and Kashmir with a maximum temperature of 22.2°C. It was followed by Udhampur with a maximum temperature of 22.1°C.

Banihal along the Jammu-Srinagar national highway recorded a maximum of 20.8°C, which is 10.5°C above normal. However, the night temperature in the highway town was minus 0.8°C.

Katra, the base camp for pilgrims visiting the Mata Vaishno Devi shrine in Reasi district, recorded a maximum of 20.9°C and a minimum of 3.9°C, the official said.

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