Srinagar city recorded a minimum temperature of -7.8°C, the lowest of this season so far. This is the lowest temperature since 2008 and equals the earlier measurement on 14 January 2013. This also amounts to severe cold wave condition as the mercury is 5°C below the normal for Srinagar. Earlier the lowest temperature of this season -6.6°C was registered on 19th December 2020.
Srinagar had gone to sub-zero earlier in November 2020 itself. However, 14th December 2020 onward, the minimum temperature of Srinagar has been consistently touching the freezing level and the lowest of -6.6°C was recorded on 19th December 2020. Lohri temperature of -7.8°C is the lowest of this season for Srinagar and may take a dip further. In the historical records, the mercury had gone down to -14.4°C on 13th January 1893.
Harshest winter period of 40 days Chillai Kalan lasts till 31st January before handing over the baton to Chillai Kurd which goes on till 20th February. Most water bodies are already frozen and the severe cold wave is sweeping the entire region in the wake of heavy snowfall earlier in the opening days of January. Kargil has recorded -20°C today and Skardu, Nubra Valley and Leh have registered mercury at -15°C, -14°C and -14°C respectively. Siachen glacier is the coldest with the mercury reaching brim of measurement at -40°C.
No active western disturbance is approaching the area till next week. The entire region will reel under excruciating cold with maximum temperature also remaining sub-zero to the tune of -8°C to -10°C in the mid and higher reaches of Kashmir and Ladakh.
