Logs 4th lowest day temperature in decades colder than Kashmir
Jammu Tawi, Jan 14: Jammu city on Wednesday recorded an unusually low maximum temperature of 7.4 degrees Celsius, making it colder than several places in the Kashmir Valley, including the hill resort of Gulmarg.
According to the details, the temperature marked the fourth lowest maximum ever recorded in Jammu city.
Jammu witnessed an exceptionally cold day on Wednesday, with the city recording a maximum temperature of just 7.4 degrees Celsius, around 10 degrees below normal for this part of the winter season, a Meteorological Department official said.
The temperature stands as the fourth-lowest maximum in Jammu in four decades, with colder daytime temperatures reported in 1986 (5.0 degrees C), 2013 (6.7 degrees C), and 2016 (7.1 degrees C), the official said.
The city also recorded a minimum temperature of 4.0 degrees Celsius, which was 2.9 notches below the seasonal average.
Incidentally, Jammu, on Tuesday, emerged as the coldest recorded place in the Union territory, even colder than several high-altitude locations in the Kashmir Valley.
The snow-bound resort of Gulmarg in north Kashmir recorded a daytime high of 8.2 degrees Celsius, while Pahalgam, a key tourist destination in south Kashmir, registered a maximum of 10.6 degrees Celsius, the official said.
Srinagar witnessed a comparatively warmer day, recording a maximum temperature of 13.3 degrees Celsius, while Banihal, the gateway town to Kashmir along the Jammu–Srinagar National Highway, remained significantly warmer at 17.8 degrees Celsius.
Katra, the base camp for pilgrims visiting the Mata Vaishno Devi shrine in Reasi district, also recorded a maximum temperature of 18.2 degrees Celsius, the official said.
Similar to last week, residents of Jammu once again woke up to dense fog on Wednesday, which disrupted air and rail traffic to and from the city.
Out of the 26 flights scheduled to operate from Jammu airport, three flights, Srinagar–Jammu–Mumbai, Srinagar–Jammu–Srinagar and Delhi–Jammu–Delhi, were cancelled, while nine others were delayed, officials said.
Similarly, several trains were also delayed due to poor visibility, they said.
Officials said the sharp drop in Jammu’s daytime temperature was influenced by persistent cloud cover and cold weather conditions prevailing across the region.
The unusually low maximum has also led to a cold day scenario in the city, with residents reporting increased use of heating appliances.
The Meteorological Department said that such deviations in maximum temperatures are uncommon for Jammu during this period.
It said weather conditions are being monitored and advised people to take precautions, particularly during early morning and evening hours.
