The night temperature across Kashmir witnessed further drop on Thursday as Srinagar recorded its coldest night at minus 2.1 degrees Celsius.
A Meteorological (MeT) Department official said that the minimum temperature is expected to drop further in the coming days in the Valley.
“The minimum temperature dropped to minus 2.1 degrees Celsius in Srinagar today, which is the lowest this season so far. The night temperature is likely to drop further in the coming days,” the MeT official said.
Pahalgam tourist resort in south Kashmir recorded night temperature of minus 3.8 degrees and in the ski resort of Gulmarg, the night temperature settled at 0.5 minimum temperature.
The weather department has forecast generally dry weather from November 13 to November 15, generally cloudy weather towards the afternoon on November 16 and then dry weather between November 17 to November 19.
Due to the present cold wave in the Valley, people have started wearing woollen clothing including the traditional ‘Pheran’. An earthen pot woven in willow wicker filled with live charcoal called the ‘Kangri’ is kept under the ‘Pheran’ to ward off cold during the winter months.
The doctors have cautioned people with a history of chest ailments and elderly persons not to expose themselves for longer periods, as cold air inhaled by people with lower immunity causes chest-related diseases.
The 40-day-long period of harsh winter cold called the ‘Chillai Kalan’ begins on December 21 and ends on January 30.
During this period, most water bodies in the Valley freeze either partially or completely, depending upon the severity of winter cold.