Srinagar, Jan 30: Minimum temperatures rose across much of the Kashmir Valley on Friday as Chillai Kalan, the harshest 40-day winter period, ended, bringing relief from the intense cold, officials said.
The night temperature in Srinagar settled at 1.3 degrees Celsius, up from minus 0.6 degrees the previous night and 2.2 degrees above the seasonal average. Several other areas, including Konibal (1.0°C), Pulwama (0.1°C) and Kulgam (1.1°C), also recorded minimum temperatures above the freezing point, indicating a broader warming trend across the Valley.
Despite the rise, higher reaches continued to experience severe cold. Sonamarg in Ganderbal district remained the coldest place in Jammu and Kashmir at minus 10.6 degrees Celsius, followed by Gulmarg at minus 9 degrees and Pahalgam at minus 5.3 degrees. Qazigund recorded a low of minus 0.3 degrees, while Kokernag and Kupwara registered minus 0.6 degrees and minus 3.1 degrees Celsius, respectively.
Chillai Kalan, which began on December 21, witnessed several spells of snowfall in the higher reaches, while plains including Srinagar received light to moderate snow.
With its conclusion, the Valley has now entered the 20-day Chillai Khurd (lesser cold), to be followed by the 10-day Chillai Bachha (baby cold). Meteorological officials said a fresh western disturbance is likely to affect the region on Sunday, raising the possibility of another spell of wet weather.
