Srinagar experienced its coldest December night in five decades as the Chillai Kalan, the 40-day harsh winter period, began on Saturday. The minimum temperature plummeted to a bone-chilling minus 8.5 degrees Celsius on Friday night, marking the city’s third coldest December night since 1891, the Meteorological Department reported.
Record-Breaking Temperatures
The freezing temperature in Srinagar surpassed the previous night’s low of minus 6.2 degrees Celsius, making it the coldest December night since 1974, when a low of minus 10.3 degrees Celsius was recorded. The all-time lowest December temperature for Srinagar remains minus 12.8 degrees Celsius, recorded on December 13, 1934.
The frigid conditions froze several water bodies, including parts of the iconic Dal Lake, and disrupted water supply lines across the valley.
Valley-Wide Freeze
Other parts of Kashmir also experienced sub-zero temperatures:
- Pahalgam: The tourist hotspot recorded a low of minus 8.6 degrees Celsius.
- Gulmarg: The ski resort registered minus 6.2 degrees Celsius.
- Konibal: This hamlet near Pampore town emerged as the coldest in the valley, with a low of minus 10.5 degrees Celsius.
- Qazigund, Kupwara, Kokernag: Minimum temperatures settled at minus 8.2, minus 7.2, and minus 5.8 degrees Celsius, respectively. Kupwara recorded its coldest December night since 1998.
Weather Forecast
The Meteorological Department predicts mainly dry weather across Kashmir until December 26, with a slight chance of light snowfall in higher altitudes on the night of December 21-22. Light snow is also expected from the afternoon of December 27 to December 28 morning.
Dry weather is likely to resume on December 29-30, with light snowfall predicted in the higher reaches on New Year’s Eve. The cold wave is expected to persist, intensifying the region’s winter chill.
Significance of Chillai Kalan
During Chillai Kalan, the chances of snowfall are at their peak, and temperatures drop significantly. This period is crucial for the region’s water resources, as the snow accumulation sustains rivers and streams during warmer months.
As Kashmir braces for the coming weeks of extreme cold, the region’s resilience shines through as locals adapt to the icy conditions and await the beauty of the season’s first snowfalls.
Sources By Agencies