Night temp improves in Kashmir; Gulmarg freezes at minus 11.5 degree

TNN Bureau. Updated: 1/27/2021 10:49:05 AM Regional News

Srinagar: There was some respite from chilly weather conditions as the mercury during the night improved and settled above normal at most places in Kashmir valley, where a fresh spell of snow is predicted from Sunday.

Meanwhile, bright sunshine greeted people in the afternoon in the summer capital, Srinagar, and other parts of Kashmir valley though ice cold winds from snow-clad mountains continued.

A Met department spokesperson told TNNthat the weather will remain dry till January 30 in the valley. “Open skies during the night could result in further dip in the mercury though day temperature is expected to improve,” he said.

He said a fresh Western Disturbance (WD), which originated from the Arabian Sea and is approaching the region though Afghanistan and Pakistan, will hit the region on January 31. “Under the influence of this WD, snow could occur at some places in Kashmir,” he added.

World famous ski resort of Gulmarg, about 55 km from here in north Kashmir, was the coldest place in the valley even as the mercury remained constant since Monday at minus 11.5 degree, which is 3 degree below normal. Gulmarg was the only place in the valley where the maximum temperature recorded on Monday was below freezing point.

Meanwhile, the resort, which is known for its ski slopes and quality of snow, is abuzz with local, national and international tourists. “All the hotels in the resort are booked and people associated with tourism are very happy as they are doing brisk business after suffering huge losses in 2019 and 2020,” a hotelier from Gulmarg told TNN over the phone.

He said the tourist influx started to pickup since Christmas even as the ski resort received early snowfall. “All the ski slopes have been thrown open for tourists and other adventure sports lovers,” he said, adding all the hotels are booked till March.

Barring Gulmarg and tourist resort of Kukernag, the night temperature in rest of the places in the valley settled above normal. Against minus 8.4 degree recorded on Monday, the night temperature at Kukernag settled at minus 9 degree, which is over 5 degree below normal.

After witnessing an improvement of about 3 degree from Monday, people in the summer capital woke up to a chilly and foggy Tuesday morning. However, as the day progressed, sun came out late in the morning, resulting in improvement in the temperature though ice cold winds continued. The mercury at Srinagar improved and settled at minus 2.4 degree. World-famous Dal Lake and other water-bodies remained partly frozen in Srinagar, where the maximum temperature recorded on Monday was a degree below normal.

The night temperature at world famous health resort of Pahalgam, about 100 km from here in south Kashmir, improved about 5 degree from Monday and settled at minus 7.1 degree, which is slightly above normal.

The mercury at Qazigund, gateway to the valley, Kupwara in north Kashmir improved and settled at 2.8 degree and 1.4 degree, respectively. The night temperature at these places was above normal.


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