By: Muzamil Bhat CK

Srinagar

Forty days of harsh winter spell known as Chillai Kalan is about to end in a few days and the impact is visible on the atmosphere in Kashmir valley with temperatures showing a rise during the day and also during the night.

According to the MeT officials the minimum temperatures have shown a rise across Kashmir valley during the previous night. With the bright sunny days, the day temperatures are already on the rise and the people have started coming out of their homes to enjoy sunny days.

Normally in Kashmir valley Chillai Kalan after the end of January, is over and it is replaced by Chillai Khurd of 20 days in the month of February.

It is a belief here that the temperatures rise after the spell of Chillai Kalan and finally it is a signal for the spring to come during the month of March.

According to GNS in its weather report on Saturday as follows.

With ‘Chillai Kalan’, the 40-day long harshest period of winter ending tomorrow, the minimum temperature rose across Kashmir Valley on Saturday.

A meteorological department official here told GNS that Srinagar, the summer capital of the J&K recorded a low of minus 1.0°C against last night’s minus 3.6°C on the previous night

Kashmir is presently under the grip of 40-day long harshest period of winter, known locally as ‘Chillai Kalan’, which started from December 21. Its exit does not mean end of the cold. It is followed by a 20-day long ‘Chillai Khurd’ and a 10-day-long ‘Chilla Bachha’.

Gulmarg recorded a low of minus 7.5°C against minus 10.4°C on previous night, he said.

The temperature is normal for this time of the year in the famous resort in north Kashmir’s Baramulla district.

Qazigund, the gateway town of Kashmir, recorded a low of minus 3.1C against minus 4.0°C on the previous night, he said.

Kokernag, also in south Kashmir, recorded a low of minus 3.3°C against minus 4.9°C on the previous night, the official said.

Pahalgam, the famous resort in south Kashmir, recorded a low of minus 2.8°C against minus 11.8°C on the last night, he said.

Kupwara town in north Kashmir recorded a low of minus 1.5°C against 4.6°C on the previous night, the official said.

Jammu recorded a low of 6.9°C against previous night’s 4.7°C. The temperature was 1.8°C below normal for the J&K’s winter capital during this time of the year, he said.

Banihal recorded a low of minus 0.6°C, Katra had minimum of 6.0°C while Bhaderwah recorded a low of minus 0.6°C, the official said.

Ladakh’s Leh recorded a low of minus 14.6°C against last night’s minus 18.0°C while mercury at automatic station in Kargil settled at minus 16.9°C. Drass, the second coldest place in the world after Siberia, recorded a low of minus 14.4°C against last night’s minus 28.2°C, official said.

Weatherman has forecast cloudy weather in J&K for next two days.

With GNS inputs