KINS DESK
Srinagar, Dec 04 (KINS): A biting cold wave gripped the Kashmir Valley on Wednesday, with minimum temperatures plunging well below freezing in several areas.
Ladakh continued to reel under intense cold, while Jammu witnessed a sharp dip in nighttime temperatures, marking the onset of the winter season.
As per the private weather forecaster, Kashmir weather, srinagar recorded a low of -2.0°C, signaling a frosty morning for the region’s summer capital. Qazigund, at -2.2°C, and Pahalgam, dipping to a chilling -4.8°C, remained among the coldest inhabited places in the valley.
Pulwama, Shopian, and Larnoo shared a frosty low of -4.7°C. However, Zojila, an important mountain pass, reported an extreme -17.0°C, underscoring the harshness of winter at higher altitudes.
Tourist hubs like Gulmarg (-3.5°C) and Sonamarg (-3.7°C) also experienced severe cold, adding to the allure of their snow-clad landscapes. The relatively milder Kokernag was the only location above freezing at 0.4°C.
In Jammu, the minimum temperature dipped to 8.4°C, making for brisk mornings. Banihal (3.2°C) and Bhaderwah (1.4°C) were among the coldest spots in the region. Padder in Kishtwar district, however, stood out with a subzero temperature of -3.5°C, rivaling colder areas in the valley.
Katra, the base camp for Vaishno Devi pilgrims, reported a comfortable 10.0°C, while Kathua (8.3°C) and Samba (4.8°C) witnessed a marked chill in the plains.
Ladakh continued to be gripped by extreme cold as Leh recorded a bone-chilling -8.8°C. Kargil was not far behind at -7.9°C. Although Drass’s data was unavailable, the region, known as the “Second Coldest Inhabited Place on Earth,” is expected to have dipped even further into freezing temperatures.
As temperatures plunge, residents and travelers in the region are bracing for harsher conditions in the coming weeks.
Meanwhile, the drop in temperatures is expected to boost winter tourism, with Gulmarg and Pahalgam emerging as hotspots for snow lovers.(KINS)
