Mercury below -15°C, Kashmir Valley shivers

Our Correspondent

Srinagar, February 2

Following a day of heavy snowfall, a severe cold wave swept across different regions of Kashmir with some areas registering bone-chilling overnight temperature below -15° Celsius.

In Larnoo area of south Kashmir’s Anantnag district, the lowest temperature was

-17.7° Celsius, followed by Sonamarg that witnessed

-15.1° Celsius as the minimum temperature. Srinagar’s minimum temperature clocked

-0.3° Celsius while that of tourist resort of Pahalgam plummeted to -11.9° Celsius.

In Qazigund area, thermometer went down to -9.4° Celsius, nearing the previous low of -12.2° Celsius on February 13, 2008.

In Banihal, the minimum temperature was -6.8° Celsius, closely behind the previous low (-7.7° Celsius) on February 9, 2008.

According to the weatherman, the fresh western disturbance will bring cold temperatures that will impact Kashmir starting Saturday and persisting for the next few days. On Saturday and Sunday, the plains of Kashmir are expected to experience maximum temperatures not exceeding 2° or 3° Celsius, with temperatures largely remaining below or near freezing point.

Over the next 48 hours, there is a chance of light to moderate snowfall in the plains of Kashmir, while rainfall may be limited. Similarly, snowfall is expected in areas, including at elevations above 1,300 meters. The most significant impact is for south Kashmir where heavy snowfall is possible in certain areas.

“Records break as extreme cold wave hits south Kashmir, parts of Jammu region and Sonamarg. Larnoo in Kokernag coldest at -17.7°C, followed by Sonamarg at -15.1°C,” private weather forecaster Faizan Arif posted on his X handle, formerly Twitter. He said the temperature in Qazigund was the lowest in the past 16 years.

The Valley is currently going through a 20-day-long ‘Chilla-i-Khurd’ (small cold) which shall be followed by a 10-day ‘Chilla-i-Bachha’ (baby cold). (With PTI inputs)

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