Cold spell grips Kashmir Valley: Night temperatures plummet across region

As the meteorological department forecasts generally dry weather until March 20, most places in Kashmir witnessed a drop in night temperatures, with Gulmarg recording a chilling minus 5.2°C on Friday.

According to a meteorological department official, Srinagar registered a minimum temperature of 1.7°C, marking a notable decrease from the previous night’s 4.4°C. This drop was 2.0°C below normal for this time of year in the summer capital of Jammu and Kashmir.

Qazigund, the gateway town of Kashmir, recorded a minimum of 2.2°C, slightly higher than the previous night’s 1.8°C but still 0.1°C below normal.

Pahalgam, the famous resort in south Kashmir, experienced a low of minus 3.1°C, significantly colder than the previous night’s minus 1.3°C, marking a departure of 1.9°C from the normal temperature.

Kokernag, also in south Kashmir, recorded a minimum temperature of 2.3°C, slightly above the previous night’s 1.3°C but still 0.2°C below normal. In Kupwara town, the temperature dropped to 0.6°C, compared to 1.2°C on the previous night, registering a deviation of 1.7°C below normal.

Gulmarg, the world-famous skiing resort in north Kashmir’s Baramulla district, witnessed a bone-chilling low of minus 5.2°C, marking a drop from the previous night’s minus 4.8°C and remaining 1.9°C below normal.

Meanwhile, Jammu recorded a minimum temperature of 10.5°C, significantly below normal by 3.5°C for the winter capital of J&K.

Other areas in the region also experienced cooler temperatures, with Banihal recording 3.2°C, Batote 5.6°C, and Bhaderwah 2.7°C.

While the forecast predicts largely dry weather until March 20, the meteorological department has warned of a fresh spell of rain and snow expected in J&K from March 21 to March 24.