Srinagar, Nov 23: Following a major drop in temperatures, Srinagar on Wednesday recorded the coldest night of this winter season. The officials at the meteorological department revealed that the minimum temperature in Srinagar settled at minus 0.8 degrees Celsius during Wednesday night.
The Metl department has predicted dry and clear weather till the end of November.
Met officials said that most of the places in Kashmir were witnessing subzero temperatures for the past several days. Summer capital Srinagar reported the first sub-zero night of the season as the mercury plummeted to minus 0.8 degree Celsius while Pahalgam in south kashmir recorded a low of minus 4.8 °C degrees and was the coldest place in the Valley.
Deputy Director of the Meteorological department at Srinagar, Mukhtar Ahmad told Rising Kashmir that minimum temperatures in the Valley have dropped below the freezing point, while in the Jammu region, the temperature has dropped to a minimum temperature of 2 to 4 degrees Celsius.
“After November 20, the weather has become dry and is likely to continue till the end of the month of November. So, the minimum temperature might fall further,” he said.
MukhtarAhmad revealed that the minimum temperature in most stations of Kashmir valley settled below freezing point. We are expecting dry weather and there is no forecast of any major snow spell till ending November.
The dense fog continued to engulf many parts including the city as a consequence of which vehicles moved with headlights on during the morning and evening hours.
As per MeT data, Srinagar recorded 14.0 °C as the maximum and minus 0.8 °C as the minimum temperature. Ski-resort of Gulmarg recorded a maximum temperature of 8.6 °C and a minimum of minus 3.8°C .
Health resort of Pahalgam recorded the highest of 11.8°C and a minimum of minus 4.8 °C degrees. Kupwara in north Kashmir recorded maximum temperatures of 15.3 °C, while minimum temperatures settled at minus 2.9 °C
In Ladakh region, Leh recorded a low of minus 9.6°C while Kargil recorded minus 8.4°C. However, Drass in Kargil, remained the coldest place in the country with a minimum of minus 11°C.
As per the traffic advisory for Thursday, two-way traffic is to ply on the Srinagar-Jammu highway, “Subject to fair weather better road condition, LMVs(Passenger) shall be allowed from both sides on Jammu-Srinagar NHW viz Jammu towards Srinagar and vice-versa. TCU Jammu/Srinagar shall liaise with TCU Ramban before releasing the traffic,” officials at the traffic control room said.
Similarly on Mughal road, LMVs from both sides and HMVs (upto twelve tyres) from Srinagar towards Poonch shall be allowed on Mughal road. LMVs from Behramgalla 0800 hrs upto 1500 hrs., from Herpora 0800 hrs upto 1600 hrs & HMVs from Herpora 0900 hrs. upto 1500 hrs, the advisory said.
“On the Srinagar-Leh highway, the vehicular movement shall be allowed from Srinagar towards Kargil,” an official said. “It will be followed by HMVs. No vehicle will be allowed after cut-off timings,” he added.
