Chill intensifies in Kashmir; Pahalgam records coldest night at minus 5.1 degree

Srinagar, Dec 1: Chilly weather conditions have further intensifies due to open skies in Ladakh region and Kashmir valley, where world famous health resort of Pahalgam recorded the coldest night of the season at minus 5.1 degree.

      A Met department spokesperson told UNI that weather will remain dry during the next 48 hours in the state, which could result in further dip in the night temperature. However, the day temperature will remain above normal due to clear sky.
      However, he said a fresh Western Disturbance (WD), which originating in Arabian sea, is expected to hit the region onDecember 3, which could result in rain and snow at isolated places of three subsequent days.
  Leh in Ladakh was the coldest place in the region after mercury further dipped about 2 degree from yesterday and settled at minus 11.3 degree followed by border town of Kargil at minus 7.4 degree.
      He said skies will be partly cloudy during the next 24 hours in Leh, where maximum and minimum temperatures will be around 6 degree and minus 10 degree, respectively.
      Pahalgam, which is about 100 km from here in south Kashmir, witnessed the coldest night of the season so far after mercury dropped a degree from yesterday and settled at minus 5.1 degree, 3 degree below normal. The health resort was the coldest place in the valley.
      After witnessing a dip in the night temperature, people woke up to a sunny morning in the summer capital, Srinagar, though chill continued due to ice cold winds. Against minus 1.7 degree yesterday, the night temperature in Srinagar was minus 2.9 degree, which is about 3 notches below normal.
         He said skies will be partly cloudy with haze during the next 24 hours in Leh, where maximum and minimum temperatures will be around 12 degree and minus 2 degree, respectively.
      The mercury at world famous ski resort of Gulmarg, about 55 km from here in north Kashmir, dipped a degree from yesterday and settled at minus 3.4 degree, slightly below normal.
      Another tourist resort of Kukernag was the only place in the region which recorded an improvement in the night temperature after the mercury surged and settled above sub zero. Against minus 1.5 degree recorded yesterday, the night temperature at Kukernag was 0.5 degree.
      The night temperatures at Qazigund, gateway to the valley, and Kupwara in north Kashmir also dipped and settled at minus 2.4 degree, respectively. UNI