Srinagar, Dec 22: Night temperatures in the Kashmir Valley saw a slight rise on Sunday, though they remained several degrees below freezing. This came amid cloud cover and a forecast for light snowfall over higher reaches, according to officials.
The Meteorological Centre in Srinagar predicted predominantly cloudy weather with light snowfall expected in higher-altitude areas of north Kashmir over the next 24 hours. The weather is expected to remain cold and dry until December 26. A weak Western disturbance is likely to bring light rain to the plains of Jammu and light snow to higher reaches of the Chenab Valley and Pir Panjal Range on December 27 and 28.
The weather will stay dry until December 30, with a chance of snowfall at higher reaches of the Kashmir Valley on New Year’s Eve.
Despite the slight rise in temperatures, the valley continues to experience bone-chilling cold. Srinagar recorded a low of minus 4.6°C on Sunday, slightly higher than the minus 8.5°C on Saturday, which was the coldest night since 1974. This was still 2.2°C below the average for this time of year.
In other areas, Pahalgam saw a rise in temperature to 4.9°C from minus 8.6°C the previous night, while Qazigund recorded minus 5.2°C, a slight improvement from minus 8.2°C. Kokernag’s temperature rose to minus 3.7°C, while Gulmarg recorded minus 4.6°C, which was 1.4°C above normal. Kupwara, the frontier town, recorded a low of minus 4.2°C, up from minus 7.2°C the previous night.
The Met Office has indicated that the ongoing cold wave will persist in the coming days, with sporadic snowfall expected over the higher reaches.
