J&K Cold Wave News: Amid the severe cold in the Kashmir Valley, the minimum temperature dropped in most of its areas, due to which water froze in many reservoirs and water supply lines in various areas. The Meteorological Department said on Wednesday that the minimum temperature in Srinagar was recorded at 7.3 degrees Celsius below zero on Tuesday night. A day earlier, this figure was recorded at 6.6 degrees Celsius below zero.

The minimum temperature in Kashmir is expected to drop by two to three degrees in the next two days. Except Gulmarg, a sharp drop in night temperature has been recorded in all other weather stations of the Kashmir Valley.

Meteorological department officials said that currently Kashmir valley is in the grip of Chillai Kalan (extreme cold). Due to the fall in temperature, water froze in the water supply pipeline while a thin layer of ice formed on the surface of many reservoirs including Dal Lake.

What was the temperature where?

The Meteorological Department said that the temperature in Gulmarg, a tourist destination famous for skiing activities in North Kashmir, was recorded at minus 6.6 degrees Celsius, while it was 7.4 degrees Celsius the previous night. In South Kashmir, the minimum temperature was recorded at minus 8.4 degrees Celsius in Pahalgam, the base camp of the annual Amarnath Yatra. The minimum temperature here was recorded at minus 7.8 degrees Celsius a night earlier. The minimum temperature in Qazigund, the gateway to Kashmir, was recorded at minus 6.6 degrees Celsius. Konibal in Pampore area was recorded as the coldest place. The temperature here was recorded at minus 9.5 degrees Celsius.

Temperature in Kupwara of Kashmir was recorded at 6.4 degrees below zero

The minimum temperature in Kupwara in north Kashmir was recorded at minus 6.4 degrees Celsius, while the temperature in Kokernag in south Kashmir was minus 5.4 degrees Celsius. The Meteorological Department said that there is a possibility of light snowfall in the high altitude areas from the afternoon of December 27 to the morning of the next day. 

Chances of snowfall on New Year

According to the Meteorological Department, the weather will remain mainly dry on December 29, 30 and 31, while light snowfall is expected at some places in the higher altitudes on New Year's Eve. Light snowfall may occur at some places in Kashmir from January 1 to 4. Snowfall is most likely during the 40 days of Chilla-e-Kalan and the temperature drops considerably after that.