Night temperatures across Jammu and Kashmir have improved after successive spells of snowfall from January 23 to February 1. The summer capital, Srinagar, recorded a minimum of 2.6 degrees Celsius, about three degrees above the seasonal average, officials said on Monday.
The minimum temperature in Srinagar has been rising slowly but steadily since the end of Chillai-Kalan, the 40-day harshest winter period in Kashmir.
The ski resort of Gulmarg in Baramulla district was the coldest place in Jammu and Kashmir at minus 8 degrees Celsius, while Pahalgam, a tourist resort in south Kashmir, recorded a minimum temperature of minus 5.5 degrees Celsius on Sunday night.
Qazigund, known as the gateway to Kashmir, recorded a minimum temperature of 0.7 degrees Celsius. Kokernag recorded a low of minus 0.6 degrees Celsius.
North Kashmir’s Kupwara also recorded a minimum temperature of minus 1.3 degrees Celsius.
A 20-day Chillai-Khurd (“small cold”) began on Saturday following the end of the 40-day Chillai-Kalan. Chillai-Khurd will be followed by the 10-day Chillai-Bachha (“baby cold”).
On Sunday, parts of the Kashmir Valley received fresh snowfall, while rain lashed the plains. Fresh snowfall occurred in the upper reaches and rural areas of south Kashmir, including the famous tourist resort of Pahalgam and the Qazigund area of Kulgam district.
Meanwhile, the MeT Department has forecast that cloudy weather conditions with the possibility of rain and snowfall are likely to persist in the Valley for the next 24 hours.
Light rain, with snow in the higher reaches, is possible at scattered to widespread places on February 2–3, officials said.
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