Passage of western disturbance on the eve of new year has left the northern mountains battered. Extreme cold has gripped entire Kashmir Valley. Further elevated posts of Siachen have plunged below -30degree. Even Leh and Kargil mercury has deep dived registering temperatures below -15degree.
Chillai Kalan has descended extreme harsh conditions with many water bodies about to freeze, including Dal Lake. Srinagar airport recorded -7.8deg, about 3 deg below the normal. Pahalgam and Gulmarg have touched a low of -10deg and Leh and Kargil recording -15.4deg and -15.8deg respectively.
The biting cold is going to sharpen further till 07th Jan. Western disturbance will approach the western Himalayas late on 07th Jan and cover the mountains with deep layered clouds. Fresh snow is likely on 07th and 08th Jan, blanketing the region totally white and intensifying the freeze, later. Srinagar, Qazigund, Anantnag, Kupwara and Poonch are likely to experience prolonged spell of under -5 deg temperatures between 02nd and 07th January 2023.
