Cold wave conditions return to Kashmir

SRINAGAR: Cold wave conditions returned to Kashmir Valley after a day's respite as the minimum temperatures in most parts fell by several degrees and the weather continued to remain dry.
Fog continued for the second day on Tuesday, but minimum temperatures across the Valley and Ladakh region plummeted below the freezing point, a MeT department official said here.
Srinagar recorded a minimum of -2.4 degrees Celsius, down almost three notches from the previous night's low of 0.4 degree Celsius, he said.
The night temperature in Pahalgam, a tourist resort which serves as a base camp during annual Amarnath yatra in south Kashmir, also dropped by three notches from the previous night's low of -1.5 degrees Celsius to settle at a low of -4.5 degrees Celsius.
The minimum temperature in the famous ski-resort of Gulmarg settled at -2.0 degrees Celsius, as against last night's 0.6 degree Celsius, he said.
The night temperature in Kupwara, in north Kashmir, settled at a low of -2.8 degrees Celsius against last night's -2.0 degrees Celsius, while Qazigund, the gateway town to Kashmir, recorded a low of -2.4 degree Celsius, over two notches down as compared to 0.3 degrees Celsius the previous night.
The south Kashmir town of Kokernag registered a minimum of -1.0 degree Celsius, over two notches down from previous night's 1.1 degree Celsius, he said.
Leh, in Ladakh region, recorded a low of -10.8 degrees Celsius, same as the previous night, the official said, adding that it continues to be the coldest recorded place in the state.
The minimum temperatures in the nearby Kargil town settled at -6.0 degrees Celsius, against previous night's -5.8 degrees Celsius.
There would not be any major change in the weather, which would continue to remain dry for the next 24 hours, the MeT office said.