Temperatures rise in Kashmir Valley; cold wave intensifies in Ladakh

The intense cold wave gripping the Kashmir Valley subsided to some extent, though night temperatures in Ladakh region dropped by a couple of degrees with Leh town recording the lowest of minus 13.6 degrees Celsius.

The minimum temperature in Leh dropped by 3.8 degrees from the minus 9.8 deg C recorded yesterday. However, the night temperature was still 10 degrees more than the coldest night recorded this winter, a Met department official said.

He said the mercury slipped by 0.4 degrees in Kargil town to settle at minus 10.4 deg C.

Srinagar witnessed a further increase of nearly two degrees compared to yesterday with the minimum temperature settling at minus 0.4 deg C, the official said.

The night temperature is almost two degrees above normal for this time of the year.

Gulmarg skiing resort in north Kashmir was the coldest place in the Valley, recording a minimum temperature of minus 6 deg C, the official said.

The night temperature at Qazigund, the gateway town to Kashmir, fell by nearly four degrees to settle at minus 2.8 deg C.

Mercury jumped by at least 3.2 degrees in Pahalgam resort in south Kashmir recording minus 1.8 deg C.

Kokernag town in south Kashmir's Anantnag district recorded minus 2.7 deg C, an increase of 2.2 degrees.

Kupwara town in north Kashmir was the warmest place in the Valley last night at 1 deg C.

The Kashmir Valley is in the grip of an intense cold wave as it witnesses forty days of harsh winter, locally called Chillai Kalaan.

The skyline across Kashmir is covered by dense clouds, raising the prospects of fresh snowfall in the valley. The met office has forecast snowfall or rains over the next 24 hours.

While Kashmir witnessed early snowfall of winter in October, there was a two-month dry spell which ended with another snowfall on New Year's eve.