Srinagar: A significant drop in minimum temperatures across Jammu and Kashmir was recorded on Saturday, while reports of frozen water pipes and water bodies poured in from various parts of the Valley.
Summer capital Srinagar recorded a minimum temperature of minus 6 degrees Celsius during the intervening night of Friday and Saturday, which was this season’s lowest temperature and was also 4.5 degrees Celsius below the average for this time of the year.
Jammu city shivered at 2.3 degrees Celsius during the intervening night of Friday and Saturday, which was the lowest December temperature since December 28, 1998, when the temperature fell to a low of 0.9 degrees Celsius.
Jammu city had earlier recorded a temperature of 2.3 degrees Celsius on December 31, 2007.
Cold wave conditions were witnessed in all parts of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh on Saturday.
Qazigund, in south Kashmir, recorded a low temperature of minus 6 degrees Celsius, while in Kupwara mercury fell to a low of minus 6.1 degrees Celsius.
Pahalgam and Gulmarg recorded freezing minus 8.3 degrees Celsius and minus 8.5 degrees Celsius respectively during the intervening night of Friday and Saturday.
Awantipora, Pampore and Kokernag recorded low temperatures of minus 5.2 degrees Celsius, minus 7 degrees Celsius and minus 5.1 degrees Celsius respectively, said reports.
Bhaderwah remained the coldest place in the Jammu region, recording a minimum temperature of minus 2.9 degrees Celsius.
Banihal, Batote and Katra recorded minimum temperatures of minus 1.2 degrees Celsius, minus 1.1 degrees Celsius and 2.8 degrees Celsius respectively.
The Meteorological Department (MeT) has predicted light to a moderate spell of snowfall from December 23 to 25. Director MeT, Sonam Lotus in a forecast issued here, ruled out the possibility of any “major snowfall” next week.
“Here’s modifications in the earlier forecast. As per today’s analysis and observations, light to moderate snowfall/rain in plain sight of Jammu is expected during 23-25th. No forecast of any major snowfall” said Lotus.