| Srinagar, most areas in Kashmir records coldest night, sun out | | |
Early Times Report
srinagar, Dec 16: The summer capital, Srinagar, witnessed coldest night of the winter so far after the mercury recorded a further drop and settled at minus 4.8 degree while elsewhere in the Kashmir valley the minimum temperature was about two degrees to six degrees below normal.
People continued to shiver in the Union Territory (UT) of Ladakh, where Drass, the coldest place in the world after Siberia, recorded about minus 20 degree followed by border district of Kargil minus 14.4 degree and Leh minus 10.8 degree minimum temperature. However, in Skardu the night temperature was minus 8.2 degree and Gilgit minus 6 degree in Pakistan-occupied-Kashmir.
The weather will remain mainly dry during the next 24 hours over Jammu and Kashmir, UT Ladakh, Gilgit and Baltistan, a Met department spokesman said here on Wednesday. During the subsequent two days there will be no large change in the weather, he added and said weather will remain dry till December 22 which will result in further drop in the minimum temperature while the day will improve.
Srinagar recorded the coldest night of the season after the mercury witnessed further dip and settled at minus 4.8 degree, about four notches below normal. The earlier coldest was minus 3.2 degree recorded on Tuesday, when the maximum temperature however, was 10.6 degree, 1.2 degree above normal due to sunshine.
Taps at several places, particularly in the outskirts, were frozen affecting water supply on Wednesday morning. However, frozen water in taps melts after improvement in the weather due to sunshine though icy cold winds also continued.
The Met spokesman said the weather will remain clear and the night temperature will witness further drop while the day temperature will improve in Srinagar during the next 24 hours. The maximum temperature will be around 12 degree while the minimum temperature minus six degree in the summer capital during the next 24 hours.
The world famous ski resort of Gulmarg, about 55 km from here in north Kashmir, also recorded coldest night of the winter so far. Against earlier coldest night of 10.2 degree recorded yesterday, the minimum temperature at Gulmarg today was minus 11 degree which was about 7 notches below normal.
Meanwhile, the world class ski slopes, under several feet of snow, witnessed heavy rush of skiers and other adventure lovers from different parts of the country. A number of skiing courses are currently underway at Gulmarg, where tourists are enjoying Gandola ride connecting base camp to Affarwat, the highest skiing point.
However, people complained frequent electricity failure at Gulmarg, where the maximum temperature on Tuesday was 2 degree, lowest in the valley.
Famed health resort of Pahalgam, about 100 km from here in south Kashmir, also witnessed major drop in the minimum temperature and settled at minus 7.4 degree against Tuesday's minus 5.3 degree. The water level in river Lidder, passing through Pahalgam, and other water bodies has decreased as snow on the upper heights remained frozen. Kupwara in north Kashmir recorded minus 4.8 degree minimum temperature, Qazigund, gateway of Kashmir on Srinagar-Jammu national highway, minus 3.3 degree and Kokernag minus 5.2 degree.
Leh recorded minus 0.1 degree maximum temperature on Tuesday and the minimum temperature minus 10.8 degree today, Kargil maximum temperature minus 3.8 degree yesterday and minimum temperature minus 14.4 degree today. The sky will be mainly clear to partly cloudy sky in Leh and the maximum and minimum temperatures will be around one degree to minus 12 degree respectively during the next 24 hours.
Muzaffarabad, capital of PoK, recorded 2.2 minimum temperature, Mirpur 16.5 degree, Gilgit minus 6 degree and Skardu minus 8.2 degree. |
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