SRINAGAR: The prevailing dry spell and freezing cold in Kashmir is the longest in nearly the last four decades. The temperatures across Kashmir dipped and cold wave conditions intensified across Kashmir Valley with the weatherman forecasting snowfall by the middle of this week. The absence of snow has also hit winter tourism in Jammu and Kashmir.
Valley is witnessing the longest dry spell since the last 40 to 45 years. There has been negligible amount of rainfall during the last five months, a Met official said.
Kashmir is currently under the grip of Chillai-Kalan considered the harshest period of winter, when the chances of snowfall are most frequent and maximum and the temperature drops considerably.
The 40-day period of intense cold Chillai Kalan that commenced on December 21 will end on January 31, but the cold wave continues even after that.
World famous Dal lake and other water bodies around Srinagar city and elsewhere in the Valley are froze partially due to drop in temperatures. The tapes and water pipes also froze at several places during the night leading to the water shortage in certain areas in the morning. Frosty mornings and slippery roads caused problems to pedestrians and motorists in Srinagar city and other parts of the valley.
Due to cold weather conditions, people are mostly staying indoors to save themselves from cold wave. With the dry spell, the river Jhelum water level has also impacted power generation and drinking water supply. The power generation has gone down leading to power crisis in Kashmir.
There was no respite from the chilly weather conditions in the Kashmir valley and Ladakh region where Leh at minus 9.8 degree was coldest in the region.
Though there was slight improvement in the minimum temperature in summer capital, Srinagar, but still it was two notches below normal. Against yesterdays minus 4.3 degree minimum temperature it was minus 4 degree, he said.
However, despite below freezing temperature, construction work in the city, particularly constructions of drains by different government department was going on.
The coldest so far in Srinagar was recorded minus 6.5 degree on December 21 when parts of the Dal Lake and other water bodies besides taps were frozen. There is possibility of light rain or snow and the maximum and minimum temperatures would be around 9 and minus 3 degree respectively in the city during the next 24 hours.
Pahalgam, a world famous health resort in south Kashmir, about 100 km from here was coldest in the valley after the minimum temperature dropped further and settled at minus 5 degree though it was still a notch above normal.
There was also drop in the minimum temperature at famed ski resort of Gulmarg though it was still three notches above normal. Against yesterdays minus 3.2 degree, it was minus 4 degree, three degree above normal.
Kupwara in north Kashmir witnessed almost no change and the minimum temperature was minus 4.6 degree, about three notches below normal.
Truckers were again seen struggling to start their vehicles at Qazigund, gateway of Kashmir on the Srinagar-Jammu national highway after the minimum temperature dropped further and settled at minus 3,6 degree against yesterdays minus 2.8 degree. At Kokernag, a tourist resort also in south Kashmir recorded minus 0.7 degree, more than two notches above normal.
Leh in Ladakh region also recorded about three degree drop in the minimum temperature and settled at minus 9.8 degree against yesterdays minus 7 degree while at border town of Kargil on Srinagar-Leh national highway it was minus 7.9 degree.
There is possibility of cloudy sky and becoming generally cloudy later in Leh where the minimum and maximum temperatures would be around 6 degree and minus 9 degree respectively during the next 24 hours.
Interestingly despite no major snowfall, tourists from different parts of the country and abroad could be seen visiting world famous ski resort of Gulmarg, Sonmarg and Pahalgam, enjoying horse ride against sledge ride in the absence of snow on slopes.
Rain, Snow Expected Today
Srinagar: The dry weather conditions prevailing in the Kashmir Valley come to an end today as the Met department has predicted light rain and snow at isolated places over higher reaches.
A Met department spokesman said here this afternoon that light rain or snow could occur over upper heights in the Kashmir valley while the weather will remain dry in Jammu and Ladakh regions during the next 24 hours.
However, during the subsequent 48 hours there could be scattered and fairly widespread rain or snow in the state, he said.
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