GLOBAL NEWS SERVICE
Srinagar, Dec 20 (GNS): ‘Chillai-Kalan’, the 40-day severe period of winter, begins on Thursday and a day ahead of it freezing cold conditions gripped Kashmir.
A meteorological department official here told GNS that today’s minimum temperature in Srinagar was down by 0.7°C from previous minus 3.7°C recorded on previous night and it was 2.7°C below normal for the summer capital of J&K, he said.
The severe cold conditions led to choking of water taps as well as freezing of water bodies at many places in Srinagar and other districts.
Qazigund recorded a minimum of minus 4.0°C against minus 4.2°C on the previous night, he said. The minimum temperature was 2.4°C below normal for the gateway town of Kashmir, the official said.
Pahalgam recorded a low of minus 6.3°C against minus 6.9°C on the previous night (coldest so far this season) and it was 1.9°C below normal for the famous resort in south Kashmir.
Kokernag, also in south Kashmir, recorded a minimum of minus 3.3°C against minus 3.1°C on the previous night and the temperature was below normal by 1.4°C for the place, the official said.
Kupwara town in north Kashmir recorded a low of minus 3.5°C against minus 3.8°C on the previous night and it was 1.1°C below normal there, the official said.
Gulmarg, the official said, recorded a low of minus 4.4°C against minus 6.6°C on the previous night and the temperature was 0.4°C above normal for the world famous skiing resort in north Kashmir.
Jammu, he said, recorded a minimum of 6.4°C against 5.7°C on previous night, and it was below normal by 2.5°C for the winter capital of J&K. Banihal recorded 5.4°C, Batote 5.0°C and Bhaderwah 1.4°C, he said.
MeT has predicted “generally mainly dry” and cold weather in J&K till December 22.
On December 23, he said, weather is expected to be generally cloudy with possibility of light snow over isolated higher reaches. From December 24-28, weather is expected to be generally dry. “Overall there is no significant weather activity till December 28”.
Chillai-Kalan does not mean an end to the winter. It is followed by a 20-day-long period called ‘Chillai-Khurd’ that occurs between January 30 and February 19 and a 10-day-long period ‘Chillai-Bachha’ (baby cold) which is from February 20 to March 1. (GNS)
