By: Muzamil Bhat CK

Srinagar

Clear skies have brought back sub zero temperatures in entire Kashmir and the people on Wednesday morning could witness icicles at many places hanging from the rooftops epically in Gulmarg and Pahalgam.

Sunny morning on Wednesday had diluted the chill and the people in Srinagar and other parts came out in large numbers to enjoy the sunny days.

The sunshine brought to life not only the streets in Srinagar but also it was a great respite for the aged and children as they were frightened by the coldness of the previous night.

According to GNS in its weather report on Wednesday it said as follows.

Barring Gazigund, the minimum temperature across Kashmir Valley settled below the freezing point on Wednesday with famous ski-resort of Gulmarg recording a low of minus 10.4°C.

A meteorological department official said that Srinagar, the summer capital of J&K, recorded a low of minus 2.3°C against last night’s 1.4°C.

Kashmir is presently under the grip of 40-day long harshest period of winter, known locally as ‘Chillai Kalan, which started from December 21. It is followed by a 20-day long ‘Chillai Khurd’ and a 10-day-long ‘Chilla Bachha’.

The mercury settled at the world famous resort of Gulmarg at minus 10.4°C against minus 9.4°C on the previous night.

Qazigund, the gateway town of Kashmir, had a low of 0.6°C against minus 0.4°C on the previous night, he said.

Pahalgam, the famous resort in south Kashmir, recorded a low of minus 6.6°C against minus 7.9°C on previous night, he said.

Kokernag, also in south Kashmir, recorded a low of minus 0.4°C against minus 2.5°C on previous night, the official said.

Kupwara town in north Kashmir recorded a minimum of minus 3.2°C against minus 1.0°C on the previous night, the official said.

Jammu, the J&K’s winter capital, saw a drop of nearly two degrees Celsius than precious night, recording a low of 5.0°C which is minus 2.4°C below normal for the place during this time of the year, he said.

Ladakh’s Leh had a low of minus 14.7°C against last night’s minus 14.0°C while automatic Kargil station recorded a minimum of minus 14.3°C. Drass in Kargil, the second coldest place in the world after Siberia, recorded a low of minus 17.4°C, the official said.

The weatherman has forecast mainly dry weather in next two days. With GNS inputs