Kargil, Pahalgam experience coldest night of season

Cold wave tightened its grip over Kashmir as the night temperature decreased by several degrees at most places owing to dry weather, even as the weather office predicted a further drop in the minimum temperature.
The night temperature dropped at most places in Kashmir division, including Ladakh region, last night, an official of the Meteorological Department here said. He said Pahalgam, in south Kashmir, and Kargil, in Ladakh region, experienced the coldest night of this winter so far last night.
The mercury at Pahalgam decreased nearly six degrees from minus 3.5 degrees Celsius the previous night to register a minimum of minus 9.2 degrees Celsius, the official said.
It was the lowest night temperature of the season at the resort and the coldest December night there in the last four years.
Pahalgam had recorded minus 9.6 degrees Celsius on 27 December 2013 and the mercury had not dropped lower than that in the month over the years till last night.
The official said Kargil also experienced the coldest night of this winter last night as the minimum temperature there dipped over two degrees from minus 11.2 degrees Celsius to minus 13.4 degrees Celsius.
He said the mercury at nearby Leh settled at the low of minus 12.2 degrees Celsius last night – also over two degrees down from the previous night’s minus 9.6 degrees Celsius.
The official said Srinagar – the summer capital of Jammu and Kashmir – recorded a low of minus 3.7 degrees Celsius –down from the previous night’s minus 1.1 degrees Celsius.
He said the mercury in Qazigund in south Kashmir settled at a low of minus 3.8 degrees Celsius –a degree down, while Kokernag town recorded a low of minus 3 degrees Celsius.
Kupwara town in north Kashmir registered a low of minus 3.8 degrees Celsius, the official said. The famous ski-resort of Gulmarg in north Kashmir recorded a low of minus 7.5 degrees Celsius last night compared to the previous night’s minus 8.4 degrees Celsius. The MET Office has forecast mainly dry weather in the state till 22 December, but predicted further drop in the night temperature.
“The minimum temperature will drop further but the days will be slightly warmer,” the official said.