Srinagar Records Season’s Coldest Night as Cold Wave Deepens Across Valley
Central Kashmir’s Srinagar district recorded its coldest night of the season as temperatures plunged to –3.2°C, the Meteorological Department reported on Monday. The sharp fall marked a fresh spell of intense cold across the Valley, with several areas dipping well below freezing.
According to the Met office, tourist destinations and higher-altitude regions witnessed even harsher conditions. Pahalgam slipped to –4.0°C, while Gulmarg reached –1.9°C. South Kashmir bore the brunt of the cold wave, with Pulwama falling to –5.0°C and Shopian touching –5.1°C, making them among the most frigid locations in the region. Zojila continued to remain locked in severe cold, freezing at –16.0°C.
Temperatures across north and central parts of the Valley also remained sub-zero. Kupwara recorded –3.2°C, Budgam dipped to –3.4°C, Baramulla plummeted to –4.6°C, and both Awantipora and Sonamarg registered –3.2°C. Pampore was among the coldest in the belt, dropping to –4.5°C.
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In Jammu division, the plains experienced relatively milder conditions, with Jammu city at 10.0°C, Katra and Kathua both at 9.2°C. However, upper reaches remained significantly colder. Banihal fell to –1.2°C, Bhaderwah stood at 0.5°C, while Rajouri recorded 3.3°C.
Ladakh continued to grapple with severe winter conditions. Leh reported –8.2°C and Kargil –8.6°C, while Drass, often labelled India’s coldest inhabited town, settled at –10.3°C. Nyoma was even colder at –11.8°C, with Nubra and Padum also enduring deep freeze at –6.6°C and –9.3°C, respectively.
The Met department has forecast predominantly dry weather for the Valley in the coming days, with sub-zero night temperatures expected to persist. A spell of partly cloudy skies on December 2 and 3 may offer a marginal rise in minimum temperatures, though no significant relief from the cold is anticipated.
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