Srinagar- Minimum temperatures decreased at most places in Kashmir as the valley continued to reel under intense cold conditions, leading to the freezing of several water bodies and water supply lines in many areas.
Srinagar recorded a low of minus 7.3 degrees Celsius on Tuesday night — down from the previous night’s minus 6.6 degrees Celsius, the meteorological department said on Wednesday.
It has predicted a dip of two to three degrees in the minimum temperatures in Kashmir over the next two days.
Except in Gulmarg, the night temperatures plummeted across all other weather stations in the Kashmir valley.
Currently under the grip of ‘Chillai-Kalan’, the harshest winter period of 40 days that started on December 21, the Kashmir valley is experiencing below-normal maximum as well as minimum temperatures for this time of the season, the officials said.
The fall in the mercury has led to the freezing of water supply lines even as a thin layer of ice covered the surface of several water bodies, including the Dal Lake.
The bone-chilling cold sweeping through Srinagar and other parts of Kashmir has disrupted daily life, freezing water taps and pipes across the valley. As the icy conditions persist, many residents are grappling with severe water shortages.
According to the reports, the taps and water supply pipelines are freezing during the chilling winter, leaving locals frustrated and causing water scarcity in many areas. In response, people were seen defrosting the pipes using various methods, including pouring hot water over them and using makeshift heaters, in an attempt to restore access to water.
Meanwhile, the weather experts have issued a cold wave alert, warning of severe conditions in Jammu and Kashmir over the next three days. Night temperatures are expected to remain 4 to 8°C below the seasonal average.
Independent weather forecaster Faizan Arif said that he he believes that there is a possibility that low-level clouds might develop during the morning hours and persist until the afternoon, particularly in the plains of Kashmir
The city was colder than Gulmarg, where the mercury settled at a low of minus 6.6 degrees Celsius, up from minus 7.4 degrees Celsius the previous night, the department added.
Pahalgam registered a minimum temperature of minus 8.4 degrees Celsius, down from the previous night’s minus 7.8 degrees Celsius, it said.
Qazigund logged a minimum temperature of minus 6.6 degrees Celsius, while Konibal, a hamlet in the Pampore area, was the coldest recorded place in the valley at minus 9.5 degrees Celsius, it said.
Kupwara, in north Kashmir, registered a low of minus 6.4 degrees Celsius, while Kokernag, in south Kashmir, was at minus 5.4 degrees Celsius.
There is a possibility of light snowfall over the higher reaches towards the later afternoon on December 27 till the forenoon the next day, the Met Office said.
While the weather would stay mainly dry on December 29, 30, and 31, light snowfall is possible in the isolated higher reaches on New Year’s Eve, and light snowfall could take place at isolated to scattered places in Kashmir from January 1-4.
During the 40 days of Chillai-Kalan, the chances of snowfall are most frequent and maximum and the temperature drops considerably.
It ends on January 30 next year, but the cold wave continues even after that in the valley. The 40 days are followed by a 20-day ‘Chillai-Khurd’ (small cold) and a 10-day ‘Chillai-Bachha’ (baby cold).
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