Although sun has been providing the much needed warmth during the past two days across Kashmir, the night temperature has taken a sharp dip making the people shiver. The sub-zero temperature, according to a weatherman leaves a layer of frost developing on roads in the morning.
The night temperature continued to remain below the freezing point across Kashmir Valley and Ladakh Union Territory, a MET official said.
He said the freezing temperatures led to development of a layer of frost on roads which caused inconvenience to the people, especially motorists.
Srinagar recorded the minimum temperature of minus 2.8 degrees Celsius, over a degree down from yesterday's minus 1.4 degrees Celsius, the official said.
He said the mercury in Qazigund -- the gateway town to the valley in south Kashmir -- decreased nearly four degrees from yesterday's low of minus 1.4 degrees Celsius to settle at the low of minus 5.1 degrees Celsius.
Pahalgam tourist resort in south Kashmir recorded a low of minus 13.7 degrees Celsius – down from minus 6.8 degrees Celsius yesterday, the official said, adding the resort was the coldest recorded place in the Kashmir valley.
The ski-resort of Gulmarg in north Kashmir registered a minimum of minus 13.4 degrees Celsius, down from minus 11 degrees Celsius, he said.
The night temperature in Kokernag settled at a low of minus 5.7 degrees Celsius, while Kupwara recorded a low of minus 5.9 degrees Celsius, the official added.
Leh in the Ladakh Union territory recorded a low of minus 16.3 degrees Celsius -- down from minus 13.0 degrees Celsius the previous night, he said.
A MET department spokesperson said that weather will remain dry during the next 24 hours in Kashmir. However, he said a fresh Western Disturbance (WD), which originated from the Arabian Sea and is approaching the region though Afghanistan and Pakistan, will hit J&K and Ladakh on Monday evening.
“Under the influence of the WD, light to moderate snow would occur till January 22 from Monday,” he added.

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