Srinagar, Dec 24: As Kashmir reels under the grip of intense cold weather conditions , Srinagar recorded a lowest temperature of minus 5.4 degrees Celsius on Saturday night according to met officials. The Meteorological Department has predicted cloudy weather from Monday onwards, officials said.
Director MeT department Srinagar, Sonam Lotus told Rising Kashmir that they were expecting dry weather till 25th December and thereafter from December 26 to 30. He said there will be cloudy weather with intermittent light snow and rains in scattered parts of Kashmir.
Lotus said there was likely to be a slight improvement in minimum temperature from 26th to 31st December.
As per MeT Data, Ski resort Gulmarg recorded minus 6.4°C, while Pahalgam recorded a minimum of minus 6.4°C which was the lowest temperature in the valley.
Srinagar recorded a maximum temperature of 11 °C while Jammu city recorded 16.3 maximum temperatures on Saturday.
To mention the 40-day-long period of harsh winter called the ‘Chillai Kalan’ started on December 21 and will end on January 31.
Chillai Kalan is followed by 20 days of Chillai Khurd, which translates to small cold, and 10 days of Chille bach (literally, baby cold). This year, minimum temperatures plummeted to minus 3.5 Celsius in Srinagar on Dec 12.
The snow that accumulates during this time period freezes and lasts longer. It is this snow that adds to the glaciers of the Valley and replenishes the perennial reservoirs that feed the rivers, streams and lakes in Kashmir during summer season. Any snowfall after the Chillai-Kalan does not last long.
The cold wave has resulted in the partial freezing of some water bodies, including the fringes of the Dal and Nigeen Lakes, residential water supply pipes in many areas of the city and other towns of the Valley.
Meanwhile the officials at the traffic department revealed that there will be two-way traffic on Srinagar-Jammu highway on Sunday.
As per the traffic advisory, there will be two-way traffic 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,” it said.
On the Srinagar-Leh highway, vehicular movement shall be allowed from Kargil towards Srinagar” the official said, adding that it will be followed by HMVs. No vehicle will be allowed after cut-off timings, it 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.
