SRINAGAR, Dec 4 (Agencies): The Kashmir Valley experienced a significant drop in night temperatures, with Srinagar shivering at a chilly minus 2.0°C on Wednesday, officials said.
Tourist hotspots such as Pahalgam, Gulmarg, and Konibal recorded even colder temperatures, reaching minus 4.8°C, minus 3.5°C, and minus 4.5°C, respectively, making them the coldest places in the region.
The cold wave tightened its grip, as Srinagar, the summer capital of Jammu and Kashmir, recorded a minimum temperature of -2.0°C during the night between Tuesday and Wednesday. According to the Meteorological Centre, this was 0.8°C lower than the average for this time of year, which is typically -1.2°C.
The tourist spot of Pahalgam in south Kashmir’s Anantnag district remained the coldest place with minus 4.8°C against the minus 3.3°C recorded on the previous night, and this was 1.5°C below normal for the valley of shepherds during this period of the season.
The night temperature further plummeted in the famous ski resort of Gulmarg and was recorded at minus 3.5°C against minus 2.4°C recorded on Tuesday. This was 0.4°C below normal for the valley of meadows during this period.
Qazigund recorded a low of 2.2°C against the 0.5°C the previous night, and this was 1.0°C below normal for the gateway to Kashmir on Wednesday.
The minimum temperature also plunged to minus 1.2°C at Kupwara against the 1.8°C recorded a day ago, and it was still 0.5°C above normal for the frontier border district of the Kashmir Valley on Wednesday.
The picnic spot of Kokernag had a slight improvement in the night temperature and recorded at 0.4°C against the minus 0.2°C the previous night, and this was 1.0°C above normal for the place in south Kashmir.
The Met Office said the weather is likely to remain dry till December 7.
“A weak Western Disturbance (WD) may affect Jammu and Kashmir between December 8 and December 9 and can cause light rain and snowfall over the isolated higher reaches,” it added.
“Overall nothing significant till December 14,” the MeT office said.