Srinagar: Following the season’s first snowfall in the lower regions of Kashmir, minimum temperatures across the valley dropped on Friday, with the weather department forecasting a cold wave for several areas over the next four days, according to officials.
Nighttime temperatures fell throughout the valley after snowfall in the higher altitudes and certain lowland areas, as reported by the meteorological department. In Srinagar, the summer capital of Jammu and Kashmir, the temperature dropped to minus 2 degrees Celsius from the previous night’s minus 0.5 degrees Celsius.
Gulmarg, a popular skiing destination in north Kashmir, recorded the coldest temperature in the valley at minus 9.6 degrees Celsius, down from minus 5.2 degrees Celsius the night before.
Meanwhile, Pahalgam, which serves as the base camp for the annual Amarnath Yatra in south Kashmir, experienced its coldest night of the season at minus 9.4 degrees Celsius, a significant drop from minus 4.6 degrees Celsius the previous evening.
Qazigund, the entry town to Kashmir, saw a low of minus 1.4 degrees Celsius, Kupwara in the north recorded minus 2.5 degrees Celsius, and Kokernag in the south logged minus 1.8 degrees Celsius.
The higher elevations, including well-known tourist spots like Gulmarg, Sonamarg, Tangmarg, Gurez, and the Zojila axis, received light to moderate snowfall on Thursday.
Additionally, some lowland areas in Shopian, Pulwama, and Baramulla, as well as the upper regions of Anantnag, Budgam, and Bandipora, experienced light snowfall.
The meteorological department has indicated that mainly dry weather is expected until December 21. However, it also anticipates a further drop in minimum temperatures across the valley with a cold wave impacting many stations over the next four days.
