Srinagar: Chillai-Kalan, the 40-day harshest-winter period began on Wednesday and the minimum temperature dropped to the season lowest across Kashmir Valley with Kashmir capital, Srinagar recording a low of minus 4.2°C.
It was 2.7°C below normal during this time of the year in Srinagar city and surpassed this season’s last lowest of minus 3.6°C that was recorded in the summer capital on Friday last, an official of the metrological department said.
Chillai-Kalan is followed by a 20-day-long period called Chillai-Khurd (mild cold) and a 10-day-long period Chilli-Bachhi (baby cold.)
In south Kashmir, a top tourist destination, Pahalgam recorded a low of minus 6.2°C against minus 5.4°C on the previous night. Besides being below normal by 1.8°C, it was also the coldest night this season in south Kashmir’s Anantnag district.
While the gate-way town of Kashmir valley, Qazigund logged a low of minus 4.2°C against minus 3.6°C (2.6°C below normal) on the previous night, Kokernag noted minus 2.4°C against minus 1.8°C on the previous night and it was 0.7°C below normal for the place, he said.
In north Kashmir, the world-famous skiing resort, Gulmarg recorded a low of minus 4.6°C against minus 4.0°C (0.2°C above normal) on the previous night. Whereas, the mercury settled at minus 4.4°C against minus 3.9°C (2.0°C below normal) in Kupwara.
Pir Panjal’s Banihal logged minus 2.0°C (below normal by 3.5°C and this season’s coldest), and Chenab’s Bhadarwah logged 0.6°C (1.0°C below normal).
Moreover, Jammu reported 6.3°C against 6.7°C (2.6°C below normal) for J&K’s winter capital and Batote had 1.2°C (2.2°C below normal), Katra 6.8°C (0.8°C below normal.)
In Ladakh, Leh and Kargil recorded a low of minus 11.8°C and 12.1°C respectively, the official said.
(GNS)