By: Tariq Shah VOV

Srinagar

Cold conditions are going to remain, especially the sub zero temperatures during the nights in Kashmir valley and some parts of Ladakh in these days of December.

Clear skies and dry weather conditions are going to remain till December 15 according to the MeT department and they have also predicted that there would be no major snowfall in Kashmir valley till the start of Chillai-Kalan.

The pleasant weather during the day with sunshine is adding to the shine of normal life in Srinagar and other parts of the valley. The locals are looking for better Kangris to purchase from the markets while as from the villages some Kangri wallas are still coming to Srinagar city in the morning with dozens of Kangris and sell them to the people during the morning hours.

Kangris are in demand in this month of December and the locals are purchasing many varieties of the Kangris from the markets and from the shops also.

Similarly people are purchasing charcoal for these Kangris and there are many varieties of charcoal available in the markets and these dry weather days have provided the opportunity to the people to purchase the charcoal so that it remains dry and is used in the Kangris

“Mainly Dry” is expected till December 14. Light to moderate snow/rain is likely at scattered places of J&K on December 15,” an official of the meteorological department here told GNS, adding, “There is no forecast for major snowfall till 20th December in both J&K and Ladakh.” He said that there would be warmer days and colder nights in J&K and Ladakh till December 14.

‘Chillai-Kalan’—which commences on December 21 and ends on January 31—is considered the harshest period of the winter when the chances of snowfall are most frequent and maximum. So far this season there have already been at least two spells of considerable snowfall. The cold wave, however, continues even after that in Kashmir with a 20-day-long ‘Chillai-Khurd’ (small cold) and a 10-day-long ‘Chillai-Bachha’ (baby cold).

Meanwhile, the MeT official said that Srinagar, the summer capital of J&K, recorded a minimum of minus 2.1°C against previous night’s minus 0.4°C. On December 1 the mercury fell as low as minus 2.5°C in Srinagar which was the lowest temperature recorded this season in the city so far.

Qazigund recorded minimum temperature of minus 2.1°C against minus 1.6°C on the previous night in the gateway town of Kashmir, he said.

Pahalgam, the famous resort in south Kashmir, recorded a low of minus 4.9°C against 4.8°C on the previous night.

Kokernag, also in south Kashmir, recorded a low of minus 1.5°C against minus 1.4°C on the previous night, the official said.

Kupwara town in north Kashmir recorded a low of minus 2.4°C against minus 1.4°C on the previous night, the official said.

Gulmarg witnessed a minimum of minus 5.8°C against minus 6.0°C on the previous night in the world famous skiing resort in north Kashmir’s Baramulla district, the official said.

Ladakh’s Leh recorded a low of minus 10.0°C against last night’s minus 7.9°C while Drass in Kargil, the second coldest place in the world after Siberia, recorded a low of minus 15.9°C, the official added.

With GNS inputs