SRINAGAR, Dec 26: Minimum temperatures across most parts of Kashmir witnessed an improvement on Friday due to overcast conditions, bringing slight relief to residents from the harsh cold, officials said.
Srinagar recorded a minimum temperature of 0.2 degrees Celsius, a significant rise of over two degrees from minus 2.2 degrees Celsius recorded on Wednesday night, officials confirmed.
Despite the improvement, Sonamarg in central Kashmir remained the coldest place in Jammu and Kashmir at minus 4.7 degrees Celsius, though this was warmer than the previous night’s minus 7.3 degrees Celsius.
North Kashmir’s famous ski resort Gulmarg was the second coldest location at minus 4.5 degrees Celsius.
Pahalgam tourist resort in south Kashmir, which serves as a base camp for the annual Amarnath yatra, recorded a minimum of minus 1.6 degrees Celsius—a notable improvement from the previous night’s minus 4.4 degrees Celsius.
Other locations recorded the following temperatures: Qazigund at 0.2 degrees Celsius, Kokernag at 0.8 degrees Celsius, and Kupwara at minus 2.4 degrees Celsius.
The Meteorological Department has forecast generally dry weather across Kashmir until December 28. However, the weather is expected to change around New Year’s Eve.
Spells of wet weather are likely, with light snow at isolated higher reaches anticipated on December 29. From December 30 to January 1, the valley may experience light rain in the plains and light snowfall in the higher reaches, the weather office said.
