The cold wave prevailing in the Valley for last few weeks intensified on Wednesday night breaking a 29-year long record as summer capital Srinagar froze at minus 8.4 degrees Celsius, making it the coldest recorded night since 1991. As per MeT data, the lowest recorded temperature in Srinagar during the last three decades was in January 1991 when mercury plummeted to minus 11.8 degrees Celsius.
In January 1995 Srinagar had recorded minus 8.3 degrees Celsius.
The coldest night of the last 29 years, recorded on Wednesday night in Srinagar, has affected normal life while other parts of the Valley also reel under a cold wave. The frozen supply lines and water storages due to freezing temperatures has compounded day to day problems for the people. Slippery surfaces due to frost caused by the sub-zero temperatures have also become a threat to commuters and pedestrians. People on Thursday woke up to a partially frozen Dal Lake and other water bodies and drains. Kashmir is presently witnessing the 40-day harshest winter period of Chillai Kalan during which chances of snowfall are maximum and temperatures plummet.
While Srinagar recorded the lowest temperature of the last 29 years, the rest of the Valley also reels under intense cold. Pahalgam in south Kashmir recorded minus 11.1 degrees Celsius. As per MeT data, the health resort was the coldest recorded station in J&K. The minimum temperature in ski-resort Gulmarg settled at minus 7 degrees Celsius, up from minus 10 degrees Celsius the night earlier. Qazigund the gateway town to the Valley recorded a minimum of minus 10 degrees Celsius compared to minus 1.4 degrees Celsius a day earlier. Kupwara recorded a low of minus 6.7 degrees Celsius, while Kokernag minus 10.3 degrees Celsius on Wednesday night.
Improvement in night temperatures likely from Friday: MeT
MeT officials said there was a possibility of improvement in night temperatures during the next few days. Director MeT, Sonam Lotus said a “gradual increase in night temperatures” was likely to be recorded from Thursday night. “From today onwards, there is forecast of weather to remain partly to generally cloudy, minimum temperature is expected to increase gradually now onwards,” said Lotus adding “there is no forecast for snowfall till January 21”.