Srinagar, Jan 9 — Kashmir continued to reel under intense winter conditions with bright sunshine during the day but biting cold at night, as several parts of the Valley recorded sub-zero minimum temperatures, according to Kashmir Weather Forecast data.
High-altitude tourist destinations remained the coldest. Sonamarg recorded the lowest minimum temperature in Kashmir at –9.8°C, followed by Gulmarg at –9.2°C and Pahalgam at –8.6°C. In south Kashmir, Shopian logged –7.8°C, while Pulwama recorded –6.8°C.
In Srinagar, the mercury dropped to –5.1°C, while the temperature at Srinagar Airport dipped further to –6.8°C, indicating sharper cold conditions on the city’s outskirts. Qazigund and Budgam both recorded –5.4°C, Kupwara –5.1°C, Baramulla –5.3°C, and Anantnag saw the night temperature fall to –6.3°C. Ganderbal registered –4.9°C, Bandipora –4.6°C, Pampore –4.5°C, while Kokernag and Kulgam were relatively warmer at –3.0°C and –1.4°C, respectively.
Jammu city recorded a minimum of 7.1°C, while Jammu Airport was slightly warmer at 7.7°C. Kathua logged 6.8°C, Samba 5.0°C, and Reasi 5.9°C. However, the higher reaches of Pir Panchal and Chenab regions experienced colder nights, with Bhaderwah at –3.4°C, Rajouri at –1.0°C, and Udhampur at 2.0°C.
Ladakh remained in a deep freeze, with Drass emerging as the coldest place in the region at a bone-chilling –24.7°C. Nyoma recorded –20.1°C, Hanle –16.9°C, Padum –17.2°C, and Tangste –17.8°C. Leh recorded –14.6°C, while Kargil stood at –13.4°C.
Meteorologists said Chillai Kalan has remained largely dry for the fourth consecutive year, with limited snowfall compared to its traditional pattern.
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