SRINAGAR, Dec 26: Kashmir Valley reeling under the grip of an intense cold wave, with minimum temperatures plunging well below freezing, officials said on Thursday. The region is expected to experience light snowfall over the higher reaches on Friday and Saturday due to the influence of a Western Disturbance.
Srinagar recorded a minimum temperature of minus 7°C on Wednesday night, slightly up from minus 7.3°C the previous night. Other areas also saw significant drops in temperature, with Gulmarg recording minus 6°C, Pahalgam minus 8.6°C, and Konibal in Pampore being the coldest at minus 9°C. The cold wave has caused the freezing of water supply lines and a thin layer of ice to cover water bodies, including the Dal Lake.
The Meteorological Department has forecast that the Western Disturbance will affect Jammu and Kashmir from Friday afternoon to Saturday afternoon, bringing light snowfall to the higher reaches of the region. While the weather is expected to remain dry from December 29 to 31, light snowfall is likely to occur at isolated places from January 1-4.
Kashmir is currently experiencing ‘Chillai-Kalan’, the harshest phase of winter, which started on December 21 and will last until January 30. This 40-day period is marked by frequent snowfall and extreme cold temperatures, followed by the milder ‘Chillai-Khurd’ and ‘Chillai-Bachha’ phases.
