Srinagar, January 7:
The Kashmir Valley remains locked in a severe cold wave as night temperatures plummeted across the region on Wednesday. Sonamarg, the famous tourist resort in Ganderbal, has officially been recorded as the coldest place in Jammu and Kashmir, with the mercury hitting a bone-chilling minus 10.1°C.
The Valley Shivers: Night Temperature Breakdown
While some areas saw a marginal “improvement” in temperatures compared to Monday night, the entire region remains well below the freezing point. Sonamarg: -10.1°C (Coldest in the UT), Gulmarg: -7.6°C (Improved by 1 degree), Pahalgam: –7.2°C (Intense cold persists), Kupwara: –3.6°C (Sub-zero), Kokernag: -2.3°C (Sub-zero), Srinagar: -1.6°C (Up from -4°C on Monday) and Qazigund: 0.1°C (Gateway town near freezing).
The region is currently in the heart of Chilla-e-Kalan, the traditional 40-day period of harshest winter. During this phase, which began on December 21, water bodies frequently freeze, and the risk of heavy snowfall is at its peak.
Surprisingly, despite the extreme cold, the plains of the valley have yet to receive any significant snowfall this season, leaving many locals and tourists waiting for the iconic white blanket.
Weather Outlook: Dry Spell to Continue
According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), relief from the dry cold is not expected immediately.
-
Forecast: Dry but generally cloudy weather.
-
Timeline: Conditions are expected to persist until at least January 20.
-
Impact: Without snowfall to “break” the cold, the dry chill is likely to continue affecting health and water supplies across the valley.
