Early Times Report
Srinagar, Dec 16: Night chill revisited as minimum temperature recorded considerable drop in the region, where world famous health resort of Pahalgam, Leh and Kargil recorded coldest night of the season so far.
However, summer like weather conditions prevailed in the Kashmir valley with the sun out though the intensity of the heat was very low.
A Met department spokesman told this afternoon that weather will remain dry during the next 72 hours in the Jammu and Kashmir due to which the minimum night temperature will remain sub zero while the day temperature near or above normal.
Due to open sky and dry weather during the night the minimum temperature at Pahalgam, a famed health resort, about 100 km from here in south Kashmir, recorded about two notches drop. Against yesterdays minus 4.3 degree, it recorded a drop and settled at minus 6.2 degree, more than three notches below normal, coldest of the season so far. The water level in all water bodies, including river Lidder had dropped as snow on upper reaches had frozen.
Gulmarg, world famous ski resort in north Kashmir also recorded drop in the night temperature due to open sky. Against yesterdays minus 3.6 degree, the minimum temperature there was minus 4.8 degree, a notch below normal. The coldest so far was minus 5.2 degree recorded on December 13.
Summer capital, Srinagar, also witnessed considerable drop in the minimum temperature as against yesterdays minus 0.4 degree, it was minus 3.6 degree, about three notches below normal. People continued to throng Hazratbal shrine, which houses the Holy Relic of Prophet Muhammad, and other shrines on the following Friday of Eid-e-Milad-un-Nabi. Summer like weather condition prevailed during the most period of the day as sun was out though the intensity of the heat was very low.
However, the weather suddenly changed in the afternoon when sky become cloudy again.The night temperature would drop further during the next 24 hours in the city. Met spokesman said the sky would be mainly clear and the maximum and minimum temperatures would be around 12 degree and minus 4 degree respectively during the next 24 hours in Srinagar, where power woes continued as even metered areas are also facing six to eight hour curtailment during the day. Qazigund, gateway of Kashmir on Srinagar-Jammu national highway also recorded coldest night of the season after the minimum temperature dropped and settled at minus 3.2 degree, more than two notches below normal. Leh and border town of Kargil in Ladakh region continued to freeze due to below freezing temperature. Against yesterdays minus 11.9 degree, the minimum temperature was minus 13.2 degree, coldest of the winter season while at Kargil it was minus 9.4 degree. He said sky would be mainly clear and the maximum and minimum temperature would be around 9 degree and minus 12 degree respectively during the next 24 hours at Leh. |
