Mercury To ‘Definitely Increase By Few Notches’ From Tomorrow: MeT
Rehan Showkat
Srinagar, Jan 31: The severe cold wave gripping the Kashmir Valley sent temperatures tumbling as the mercury plummeted to minus 8.4°C in Srinagar, the lowest temperature of the season so far and the coldest January night in the past 25 years, the weatherman said on Sunday.
A meteorological department official told GNS that Srinagar recorded a low of minus 8.4°C against minus 7.2°C on the previous night. The mercury was more than eight degrees below normal (minus 1.0°C) for this time of the season.
The minimum temperatures have consistently remained far below normal this season. On January 14, Srinagar recorded minus 8.4°C. In 1991, Srinagar witnessed a low of minus 11.8°C while the lowest ever temperature was recorded on 31 January 1893 when the mercury had plummeted to minus 14.4 degrees Celsius. In between, the official said, the mercury dropped to minus 9.0°C on 11 January 1986.
The minimum temperature also hovered around far below the normal for other parts of the Valley, the official said.
The mercury, he said, settled at minus 12.0°C in Pahalgam against minus 12.5°C on the previous night in the world-famous health resort.
Qazigund, the gateway town of J&K, recorded a low of minus 10.2°C against minus 8.8°C on the previous night while Kokernag recorded a minimum of minus 12.4°C against minus 10.9°C on the earlier night.
Gulmarg recorded a low of minus 8.0°C against minus 10.0°C earlier night, the official said.
The mercury settled at minus 2.3°C in the in Kupwara against minus 3.7°C on the previous night, the official said.
‘Chillai-Kalan’— the 40-day harshest winter period which commenced on December 21, has ended. The period is considered the harshest of the winter when the chances of snowfall are most frequent and maximum. This season there have been already at least two spells of considerable snowfall.
The cold wave, however, continues even after that in Kashmir with a 20-day-long ‘Chillai-Khurd’ (small cold) and a 10-day-long ‘Chillai-Bachha’ (baby cold).
The weatherman has forecast cloudy weather and from tomorrow morning. The official said, “night temperatures will definitely improve by few notches.”
“Light to moderate snow and rain” has been predicted at scattered places of J&K and Ladakh during 2-3rd February. (GNS)
