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Jammu-Kashmir Weather: Due to cloudy sky throughout the night, the night temperature increased in the entire valley. For the first time this season, Srinagar recorded a minimum temperature of 4 degrees Celsius, while Gulmarg and Pahalgam recorded minus 1.5 degrees and 2.8 degrees Celsius respectively.
Jammu-Kashmir Weather: In Kashmir, an increase in minimum temperature has been recorded due to snowfall in high altitude areas and rain in plain areas. According to officials, Sunday was the hottest night so far this winter in Srinagar. According to the Meteorological Department, the minimum temperature in Srinagar was recorded at 4 degrees Celsius on Sunday, which is about 6 degrees more than normal. This increase has happened at a time when ‘Chillai-Kalan’ i.e. the harshest winter of 40 days is going on in Kashmir. During this period, snowfall in the high altitude areas and rain in the plains have brought relief to the people of the valley after a long drought.
An official of the local meteorological department said that the night temperature has increased due to cloudy weather in the area. The cloud cover reduced the cold to some extent, due to which the minimum temperature went up. However, the temperature was recorded below zero in Gulmarg in North Kashmir. The minimum temperature here was minus 1.5 degrees Celsius, which is about 5 degrees more than the normal temperature at this time. Gulmarg was the only weather station in Kashmir where the temperature went below zero.
Forecast of rain and snowfall
The minimum temperature at other weather stations including Pahalgam in Anantnag district of South Kashmir was recorded between 2.5 degrees Celsius to 3.8 degrees Celsius. The Meteorological Department has predicted moderate to heavy snowfall in the high altitude areas and light to moderate rain in the plain areas in the coming days. Officials say that this weather change is beneficial for water resources and it will provide some relief to the people in this difficult period of cold.
Chillai Kalan started in Kashmir
The first snowfall of this season occurred in the high hills of Kashmir and rain in the plains of the valley. This is the beginning of the first day of 40 days of severe cold, which is called ‘Chillai Kalan’ in the local language. The nearly three-month-long drought ended on Sunday when rain and snowfall washed away all suspended particulate matter from the air, making it safe and easy to breathe. People heaved a sigh of relief from the first snowfall and rain of the season. The air became clean in cities and towns.
Chillai Kalan started in Kashmir
The first snowfall of this season occurred in the high hills of Kashmir and rain in the plains of the valley. This is the beginning of the first day of 40 days of severe cold, which is called ‘Chillai Kalan’ in the local language. The nearly three-month-long drought ended on Sunday when rain and snowfall washed away all suspended particulate matter from the air, making it safe and easy to breathe. People heaved a sigh of relief from the first snowfall and rain of the season. The air became clean in cities and towns.
First snowfall in Gulmarg ski resort and Sonmarg hill station
The ski resort of Gulmarg and Sonamarg hill station also received the first snowfall of the season. People who were worried that Christmas and New Year celebrations would be dull due to lack of snow, are now hoping that a large number of tourists will come to welcome the New Year amid abundant snowfall in Gulmarg and other hill stations. All the perennial water reservoirs present in the higher reaches of Jammu and Kashmir are filled with heavy snowfall during Chillai Kalan.
