Srinagar, Jan 1: Kashmir embraced the arrival of the New Year on a dry note as the cold wave tightened its grip on the valley, causing the minimum temperature to drop two to three degrees below the freezing point, as per officials on Monday.
In contrast to the usual snowy landscapes, most plain areas of Kashmir experienced no snowfall, and even the upper reaches received a lesser amount than usual by the end of December. The absence of cloud cover contributed to a further decline in the minimum temperature across various parts, including Srinagar, officials reported.
Srinagar, the summer capital, witnessed a drop in the minimum temperature to minus 5.2 degrees Celsius, a considerable decrease from the previous night’s minus 3.4 degrees Celsius. Pahalgam in south Kashmir’s Anantnag district, known for serving as one of the base camps for the annual Amarnath Yatra, recorded a minimum temperature of minus 5.7 degrees Celsius, down from the previous night’s minus 3.4 degrees Celsius.
Qazigund reported a low of minus 3.6 degrees Celsius, Kokernag town registered a minimum of minus 1.7 degrees Celsius, and Kupwara recorded a minimum of minus 4.5 degrees Celsius.
Presently, Kashmir finds itself under the influence of ‘Chilla-i-Kalan,’ the 40-day period of the harshest winter conditions when a cold wave envelops the region, leading to a substantial drop in temperature. This period, ending on January 31, is associated with the freezing of water bodies, including Dal Lake, and the water supply lines in various parts of the valley. The likelihood of snowfall is highest during ‘Chilla-i-Kalan,’ with heavy snowfall experienced in many areas, especially the higher reaches.
Following this, cold conditions will persist, marked by a 20-day-long ‘Chilla-i-Khurd’ (small cold) and a 10-day-long ‘Chilla-i-Bachha’ (baby cold
