Cold wave intensifies in Kashmir, Ladakh

Cold wave further intensified on Sunday as the mercury dipped below sub-zero temperatures in almost all parts of Kashmir and Ladakh region. Meteorological department officials said weather will remain dry in Jammu and Kashmir for next nine days.

“It will result in further drop in the minimum temperature,” an official said.

MeT officials said Srinagar recorded the coldest night of the season so far as the temperature dropped and settled at minus 0.9 degrees, about a degree below normal. The temperature recorded in Srinagar on Saturday was minus 0.5 degrees.

Officials said Pahalgam also witnessed the coldest night of the season, so far, after the mercury dipped and settled at minus 3.7 degrees, against minus 3.5 degree recorded on Saturday.

The temperature in Qazigund, they said, plunged and settled at minus 1.8 degree Celsius, against minus 0.8 degree Celsius recorded on Saturday.

Ski resort of Gulmarg, they said, witnessed some improvement, but it was still the coldest place in Kashmir.“Against minus 4.6 degree Celsius recorded on Saturday, it was minus 3.8 degree,” officials said, adding that Kupwara in north Kashmir also witnessed the coldest night of the season as the mercury dipped and settled at minus 1.6 degree, against minus 1.1 degree recorded on Saturday.

MeT officials said Leh in Ladakh region recorded the coldest night of the season as the mercury further dipped and settled at minus 8.5 degree, against minus 7.1 degree on Saturday. The border town of Kargil, they said, also witnessed a dip in the night temperature due to open skies.

“Kargil with minus 7.2 degree Celsius was the second coldest place after Leh. On Saturday the temperature recorded in this border town was minus 6.6 degree Celsius,” officials said.