The weatherman on Monday forecast widespread rain and snow on Friday and Saturday in Kashmir Valley even as night temperatures appreciated due to overnight cloud cover with Srinagar recording a low of minus 2 degrees Celsius.“There is the possibility of widespread rain and snow on January 11 and 12,” a meteorological department official told GNS.Meanwhile, he said the minimum temperature in this summer capital of the state appreciated from minus 4.0 degree Celsius on the previous night.The night temperature in Pahalgam rose considerably from minus 12.5 degree Celsius on the previous night to settle at minus 4.9 Degrees Celsius last night, he said.Qazigund, the gate-town of Kashmir, saw a low of minus 3.4 degree Celsius as against minus 5.3 degree Celsius on previous night while Kokernag, also in south Kashmir, recorded a minimum of minus 3.2 degree Celsius against minus 4.7 degrees Celsius on last night.
The MeT official said that the mercury at the famous ski-resort of Gulmarg in north Kashmir settled at minus 9.0 degrees Celsius last night as against minus 11.0 degrees Celsius on the previous night.Kupwara town in north Kashmir registered a low of minus 4.6 degree Celsius last night, up from the previous night’s 5.9 degrees Celsius, the official said.The night temperature in Leh town settled at minus 8.9 degrees Celsius, up from minus 11.8 degrees Celsius on the previous night.Kashmir is currently under the grip of 'Chillai-Kalan' the 40-day harshest period of winter when the chances of snowfall are most frequent and maximum and the temperature drops considerably.'Chillai-Kalan' ends on January 31, but the cold wave continues even after that in Kashmir.The 40-day period is followed by a 20-day long 'Chillai-Khurd' (small cold) and a 10-day long 'Chillai-Bachha' (baby cold). (GNS)