Kashmir shivers as temperatures plunge after season’s first snowfall
KINS DESK
Srinagar, Dec 13 (KINS): A day after plain areas in Kashmir witnessed the season’s first snowfall, minimum temperatures dropped sharply across the valley on Friday, with the meteorological department predicting a cold wave over many regions for the next four days.
Srinagar, the summer capital of Jammu and Kashmir, recorded a minimum temperature of minus 2°C, a significant drop from minus 0.5°C the previous night, according to officials.
Tourist hotspot Gulmarg, renowned for its skiing slopes, experienced the coldest temperature in the valley, with the mercury plunging to minus 9.6°C, down from minus 5.2°C the night before. Pahalgam, the base camp for the annual Amarnath Yatra, saw its coldest night of the season at minus 9.4°C, compared to minus 4.6°C recorded the previous night.
In other parts of the valley, Qazigund, known as the gateway town to Kashmir, registered a low of minus 1.4°C, while Kupwara in the north recorded minus 2.5°C, and Kokernag in the south logged minus 1.8°C.
Higher reaches, including popular tourist spots like Gulmarg, Sonamarg, Tangmarg, Gurez, and the Zojila Pass, received light to moderate snowfall on Thursday. Zojila recorded an extreme low of minus 28°C, according to Kashmir Weather.
Plains in Shopian, Pulwama, and Baramulla districts, along with upper areas of Anantnag, Budgam, and Bandipora, also reported light snowfall.
The meteorological department has forecast primarily dry weather till December 21, with a further drop in minimum temperatures expected. A cold wave is likely to grip several parts of the valley during this period.(KINS)
