Minimum temperatures rise marginally across Kashmir

minimum temperatures across Valley increased marginally on Friday, even as y remained several notches below freezing point, a Meteorological Department official said. Srinagar city recorded a low of minus 6.1 degrees Celsius, nearly four notches below normal for this time of year. city h recorded a minimum temperature of minus 7 degrees Celsius previous night, official said.

minimum temperature in Gulmarg in north Kashmir's Baramulla district was minus 6 degrees Celsius last night, up from minus 7.8 degrees Celsius night before. Pahalgam tourist resort, which also serves as a base camp for annual Amarnath Yatra in south Kashmir, recorded a low of minus 7 degrees Celsius, up from minus 9.3 degrees Celsius night before.

Qazigund recorded a minimum temperature of 6.2 degrees Celsius, official said. Kupwara in north Kashmir recorded a low of minus 4.8 degrees Celsius, while Kokernag in south recorded a low of minus 6.5 degrees Celsius.

Several water bodies in Valley have frozen due to intense cold. A thick layer of ice on several ros in city and elsewhere in Valley makes it difficult for motorists to drive in early hours. However, situation improves later in day as Valley has been witnessing unusual winter sunshine.

Kashmir is currently in grip of 'Chillai-Kalan', a 40-day period of harshest winter when a cold wave grips region and temperature drops considerably leing to freezing of water bodies including famous Dal Lake here and water supply lines.

chances of snowfall are maximum during this period and most areas, especially in higher reaches, receive heavy snowfall. While 'Chillai-Kalan' began on December 21 and will end on January 31, cold wave continues even after that in Kashmir with a 20-day 'Chillai-Khurd' (small cold) and a 10-day 'Chillai-Bachha' (baby cold).