Night temp improves due to overcast condition; sun plays hide and seek in Kashmir

Srinagar, Feb 28 : Overcast conditions have led to an increase in the night temperature and the mercury across Kashmir valley, except world famous ski resort of Gulmarg and health resort Pahalgam, settled above the freezing point. Meanwhile, sun was playing hide and seek much to the delight of the people, despite prediction of wet weather, though ice cold winds continued in Kashmir. A Met department spokesperson told UNI that light to moderate rain and snow would occur at many place during the next 24 hours in the state. Even though the night temperature remained constant since yesterday at minus 8.4 degree in Leh, it was still the coldest place in the region, followed by border town of Kargil, where mercury settled at minus 5.2 degree. He said light snow would occur during the next 24 hours in Leh, where the maximum and minimum temperatures will remain around 3 degree and minus 4 degrees, respectively. There was some improvement in night temperature at the world famous ski resort of Gulmarg, which is under several feet of snow, though it still was the coldest place in the valley. Against minus 5.5 degree recorded yesterday, the night temperature was minus 4.9 degree, which is about slightly below normal. After witnessing further improvement in night temperature, people woke up to a cloudy morning in this summer capital, Srinagar though as the day progressed, sun played hide and seek. The mercury during the night further surged and settled at 4.8 degree, against 0.4 degree recorded yesterday. The temperature at Srinagar was about four degree above normal. He said light snow or rain would occur during the next 24 hours in Srinagar, where maximum and minimum temperatures will be 11 degrees and 3 degrees, respectively. Even though world famous health resort of Pahalgam, about 100 km from here in south Kashmir, witnessed an improvement of about six degree, it was still below freezing point. Against minus 6.6 degree recorded yesterday, the night temperature was minus 0.2 degree, which is 3 notches above normal. Night temperature at Qazigund, the gateway to Kashmir Valley, on Srinagar-Jammu National Highway, also surged two degree from yesterday and settled at 2.6 degree. The temperature was about three degrees above normal. Another health resort Kokernag and Kupwara in north Kashmir also witnessed some improvement in the night temperature. Against 0.9 degree recorded yesterday, the night temperature at Kokernag was 3.5 degree while mercury surged and settled at 1.5 degree at Kupwara, against minus 2.7 degree witnessed yesterday.