Weather Update: Kashmir Valley & Ladakh Continue To Reel Under Sub-Zero Temperatures

Kashmir is presently under the grip of a 40-day long harsh period of winter, locally known  as ‘Chillai Kalan’, which started from December 21.

New Delhi: Kashmir Valley and Ladakh continued to reel under sub-zero temperatures with popular holiday destinations, Gulmarg and Pahalgam recording a low of minus 10.6°C and minus 10.4°C respectively on Tuesday.

A meteorological department official said that except at Srinagar, the mercury dropped across the Valley with the summer capital of J&K recording a low of 0.2°C, the same as on the previous day. It was 2.1°C above normal for this time of the year in Srinagar, he said.

Gulmarg, the world-famous skiing resort in north Kashmir’s Baramulla district, recorded a drop by six notches as the mercury settled at minus 10.6°C, while Pahalgam recorded a low of minus 10.4°C.

Kashmir is presently under the grip of a 40-day long harsh period of winter, locally known as ‘Chillai Kalan’, which started from December 21. It is followed by a 20-day long ‘Chillai Khurd’ and a 10-day-long ‘Chilla Bachha’.

The Leh region in Ladakh recorded a low of minus 12.9°C while the mercury in Kargil settled at minus 11.3°C. Drass, the second coldest place in the world after Siberia, recorded a low of minus 24.2°C, almost three times lower than last night’s minus 8.8°C, the official said.

The weatherman has predicted dry weather at most places in Jammu and Kashmir till January 16.

He said that there would be gradual rise in temperature during the day and a fall during the night. The Meteorological Department also urged people in snowbound areas to be cautious of avalanches.