Chill intensifies in Kashmir; Gulmarg colder than Leh at -9.8 deg

Srinagar, Dec 14: Chilly weather conditions intensified after recent snowfall as the maximum and minimum temperatures witnessed drop and settled several degrees below normal at majority of the places in Kashmir valley, including Srinagar, which recorded the coldest day of the season so far at 4.2 degrees Celsius.

World famous ski resort of Gulmarg remained the coldest place in the region at minus 9.8 degree followed by Leh in Ladakh region at minus 8.5 degree.
A Met department spokesperson told UNI that light rain or snow could occur at isolated place in the state during the next 48 hours. However, he said weather will improve from December 16 onwards.
The night temperature at Gulmarg, about 55 km from here in north Kashmir, where ski slopes, under several feet of snow, waiting for skiers across the world, remained constant from Wednesday at minus 9.8 degree. The ski resort with about 6 degree below normal night temperature was the coldest place in the valley. Gulmarg was the only place in the state which recorded below sub-zero maximum temperature yesterday. The day temperature recorded in Gulmarg on Wednesday was minus 1.6 degree, which is about 7 degree below normal.
The mercury during the night at Leh, which received light to moderate snowfall for three days till Wednesday, dipped 2 degree and settled at minus 8.5 degree. Border town of Kargil also witnessed a dip of about 2 degree from Wednesday in the night temperature and settled at minus 8 degree.
The skies will be partly cloudy sky during the next 24 hours in Leh, where maximum and minimum temperatures will be around 4 degree and minus 12 degree, respectively.
After witnessing the coldest day on Wednesday at 4.2 degree in the summer capital, Srinagar, the night temperature also dipped further and settled at minus 1.5 degree, against minus 0.7 degree recorded on Thursday. The maximum temperature in the summer capital was 5 degree below normal.
He said skies will be generally cloudy during the next 24 hours in Srinagar, where maximum and minimum temperatures will be around 6 degree and minus 2 degree, respectively.
Fresh snowfall occurred in the morning at world famous health resort of Pahalgam, about 100 km from here in south Kashmir, where night temperature dipped about 4 degree from Wednesday and settled at minus 6.5 degree. The night temperature in Pahalgam was about 4 degree below normal.
Qazigund, gateway to Kashmir valley, was the only place in the region which recorded above normal night temperature. Against 0.2 degree recorded on Wednesday, the night temperature was 0 degree, which is a degree above normal.
The mercury tourist resort of Kokernag and Kupwara in north Kashmir also dipped and settled at minus 1.4 degree and minus 1.5 degree, respectively.