Fresh snowfall in the highlands of Kashmir

A view of snow-covered areas as Sonmarg receives heavy snowfall, in Ganderbal on Monday. | Photo Credit: ANI

The higher reaches of Kashmir received fresh snowfall on Tuesday (December 24, 2024) as cold wave conditions persisted across the valley and the minimum temperature dropped a few degrees below the freezing point, officials said.

They said light snowfall was recorded last night at Sonamarg tourist area and a few other places in the higher parts of the valley.

The drop in mercury led to freezing water supply lines as a thin layer of ice covered the surface of several water sources.

Kashmir is facing bitterly cold conditions, with the maximum temperature in Srinagar on Monday remaining more than six degrees below normal for this time of the season.

The city recorded a maximum temperature of 2.8 degrees Celsius on Monday as the day’s temperature remained below normal across the valley.

The freezing cold continued throughout Monday night and the minimum temperatures were also below normal.

Srinagar recorded minus 6.6 degrees Celsius on Monday night – three degrees lower than last night, the Meteorological Department said.

Pahalgam, the base camp of the annual Amarnath Yatra in south Kashmir, registered a minimum temperature of 7.8 degrees Celsius, down from minus 5 degrees Celsius the previous night, it said.

The night temperature in Gulmarg, a tourist town known for skiing activities in north Kashmir, settled at a low of 7.4 degrees Celsius — about three degrees lower than 4.8 degrees Celsius the previous night, the department said.

Qazigund, a city bordering Kashmir, recorded a minimum temperature of 6.2 degrees Celsius, while Konibal, a village in Pampore district, was the coldest place recorded in the valley at minus 8.5 degrees Celsius, it said.

Kupwara, in north Kashmir, and Kokernag, in south Kashmir, registered below minus 6.4 degrees Celsius.

The weather department has predicted a dip of two to three degrees in minimum temperatures in the next few days till December 26.

There is a chance of light snow at higher elevations from the late afternoon of December 27 into the afternoon of the following day, the Met Office said.

While the weather will remain dry on December 29 and 30, light snowfall is possible at isolated places on New Year, and light snow is likely to occur at isolated and scattered places in Kashmir from January 1-3.

Kashmir is currently under the spell of ‘Chillai-Kalan’ – considered the harshest winter season – which began on December 21.

During the 40 days of Chillai-Kalan, chances of snowfall are more frequent and abundant and the temperature drops significantly.

It ends on January 30 next year, but the cold wave continues even after that in the valley. 40 days followed by 20 days ‘Chillai-Khurd’ (minor cold) and 10 days ‘Chillai-Bachha’ (childhood fever).