Cold wave conditions persisted across Jammu and Kashmir on Friday following recent snowfall that blanketed most weather stations in the Union Territory, officials said.
Chillai-Kalan—the harshest 40-day winter period traditionally associated with severe cold and heavy snowfall—ends tonight.
While the plains received relatively less snow compared to higher altitudes, the cold wave remained intense throughout, exacerbated by foggy and dry weather on many days.
The intense cold continued to affect popular tourist destinations and higher reaches, although Srinagar recorded above-normal minimum temperatures on Wednesday and Thursday nights.
“The summer capital recorded a minimum temperature of minus 1.3 degrees Celsius,” the Meteorological Department said.
Popular destinations such as Gulmarg and Pahalgam are experiencing severe freezing conditions. Sonamarg, in central Kashmir’s Ganderbal district, remained the coldest place, with a minimum temperature of minus 10.6 degrees Celsius — slightly higher than the minus 11.2 degrees Celsius recorded on Wednesday night.
Gulmarg recorded minus 9 degrees Celsius, while Pahalgam recorded minus 5.3 degrees Celsius. Qazigund, the gateway to Kashmir, recorded a minimum temperature of 0.3 degrees Celsius.
According to the Meteorological Department, a majority of weather stations in the Kashmir Valley — including those in the north, south, and central regions — continued to report cold wave conditions.
Higher reaches of the Valley witnessed intermittent snowfall, while the plains experienced fresh snow on January 23 and January 27, breaking a prolonged dry spell.
In the Jammu region, minimum temperatures on Thursday night were: Jammu city 9.3 degrees Celsius, Katra 8.4, Udhampur 3.6, and Banihal 1.1 degrees Celsius.
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