Srinagar, Jan 19: As Chillai Kalan, the 40-day harshest leg of winter, entered its 5th week, minimum temperatures across Kashmir showed an improvement on Monday compared with the previous day, offering slight relief from the cold even as Meteorological Department (MeT) officials warned that fresh snowfall is likely later this week under the influence of approaching Western Disturbances.
Srinagar recorded a minimum temperature of minus 1.2 degrees Celsius on Monday, up from minus 4.7 degrees the previous day.
Qazigund registered minus 2.4 degrees Celsius, compared with minus 4.8 degrees Celsius on Sunday, while Pahalgam recorded minus 1.8 degrees Celsius, improving from minus 6 degrees Celsius.
In north Kashmir, Kupwara saw its minimum temperature rise to minus 1.6 degrees Celsius from minus 4.8 degrees Celsius, and Baramulla recorded minus 1.4 degrees Celsius compared with minus 4.4 degrees Celsius the previous day.
Bandipora also witnessed a rise, with the mercury settling at minus 1.4 degrees Celsius, compared to minus 5 degrees Celsius on Sunday.
However, several areas continued to experience intense cold.
Pulwama recorded the lowest temperature in Kashmir at minus 5.1 degrees Celsius, though this was higher than Sunday’s minus 6.1 degrees Celsius.
Shopian registered minus 4.7 degrees Celsius, up from minus 6.7 degrees Celsius, while Anantnag improved to minus 3.9 degrees Celsius from minus 6.1 degrees Celsius.
Gulmarg tourist resort recorded a minimum of minus 3.5 degrees Celsius, compared with minus 5.6 degrees Celsius a day earlier, while Sonamarg remained the coldest spot at minus 8.3 degrees Celsius, slightly warmer than Sunday’s minus 8.9 degrees Celsius.
At Srinagar Airport, the minimum temperature rose to minus 3.8 degrees from minus 5.4 degrees Celsius, easing cold conditions for flight operations.
Ganderbal recorded minus 0.7 degrees Celsius, up from minus 3.3 degrees Celsius, while Sopore saw an improvement to minus 3 degrees Celsius from minus 6.1 degrees Celsius.
In the Jammu region, Jammu city recorded a minimum of 7.3 degrees Celsius on Monday, up from 5.5 degrees the previous day.
In Ladakh, Leh recorded a minimum temperature of minus 8 degrees Celsius, marginally higher than Sunday’s minus 8.2 degrees Celsius.
Meanwhile, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) has warned that a series of Western Disturbances is likely to affect J&K later this week.
According to IMD officials, an intense Western Disturbance is expected to impact the region between January 22 and 24, followed by another moderate system from January 26 to 28.
IMD said these systems could bring widespread light to moderate rain and snowfall across J&K, with heavy precipitation at isolated places, particularly over the Pir Panjal range, the Chenab Valley, and higher reaches of south Kashmir.
The department has cautioned that the weather may disrupt road and air traffic, including along the Srinagar-Jammu National Highway.
Meteorological officials said the slight rise in night temperatures was due to increasing cloud cover ahead of the approaching Western Disturbance, though cold conditions are expected to persist across the region.
