Mercury Plunges To Season's Lowest In Kargil Town

Srinagar: The mercury in Kargil town of Ladakh region in Jammu and Kashmir plunged to the season's lowest so far as it recorded a minimum of minus 15.2 degrees Celsius, even as there was some improvement in the weather at some other places in the state.

Kargil experienced the coldest night of the season so far, an official of the MeT department said in Srinagar.

He said it was a drop of over two degrees in the temperature from the previous night's minus 13 degrees Celsius. The nearby Leh town also shivered at a low of minus 14 degrees Celsius, the official said, adding however, the mercury increased slightly there from the previous night's minus 14.7 degrees Celsius.

The mercury in Srinagar -- the summer capital -- settled at minus 3.6 degrees Celsius compared to minus 3.8 degrees Celsius the previous night, the official said.

He said the minimum temperature also increased in the famous hill-resort of Pahalgam as it settled minus 5.8 degrees Celsius against previous night's low of minus 6.3 degrees Celsius.

The famous ski-resort of Gulmarg recorded a low of minus 7.2 degrees Celsius, an increase of two notches from the previous night's minus 9.2 degrees Celsius.

Qazigund, the gateway town to Kashmir Valley, registered the minimum temperature of minus 3.2 degrees Celsius, the mercury in Kokernag settled at minus 1.9 degree Celsius, the official said.

He said Kupwara, in north Kashmir, registered a low of minus 3.2 degrees Celsius.

Kashmir is in the midst of the 40-day-long harshest phase of winter, which began on December 21 and will continue till the end of this month.

Known as Chilai-Kalan in local parlance, the chances of snowfall are most frequent and maximum during this period.

The 40-day period is followed by a 20-day long 'Chillai-Khurd' (small cold) and a 10-day long 'Chillai Bachha' (baby cold).

The MeT Office has said there is possibility of isolated rains or snowfall in the Valley tomorrow.