Light snowfall ends prolonged dry spell in Kashmir Valley; Chilla-i-Kalan grips region

Officials reported that light snowfall in the higher reaches of Kashmir marked the conclusion of a nearly two-month-long dry spell in the valley, causing a significant rise in minimum temperatures on Thursday night.

Snowfall was observed in various areas, including Gulmarg, Pahalgam, Sonamarg, Gurez, Macchil, Karnah Doodpathri, and Shopian, occurring intermittently. Srinagar city experienced a minimum temperature of minus 0.5 degrees Celsius on Thursday night, showing a three-degree increase from the previous night’s minus 3.6 degrees Celsius. Pahalgam, a key base camp for the annual Amarnath Yatra, recorded a minimum temperature of minus 0.4 degrees Celsius.

Qazigund town reached a low of 0.2 degrees Celsius, while the ski resort of Gulmarg in north Kashmir recorded a low of minus 3.7 degrees Celsius. Kokernag town settled at minus 0.1 degree Celsius, and Kupwara recorded a temperature of 2.5 degrees Celsius.

The dry and mostly snowless winter in Kashmir led to freezing nights and warmer than usual days. Srinagar, at times, experienced higher temperatures than cities like Delhi, Chandigarh, and Lucknow. While most plain areas of Kashmir received no snowfall, upper reaches had a lesser than usual amount.

The meteorological department forecasts light snowfall in some valley locations until January 31. Currently under the influence of ‘Chilla-i-Kalan,’ a 40-day harsh winter period, Kashmir experiences a cold wave leading to freezing temperatures in water bodies and pipes. The ‘Chilla-i-Kalan’ period is expected to end on January 31, followed by a 20-day ‘Chilla-i-Khurd’ (small cold) and a 10-day ‘Chilla-i-Bachha’ (baby cold), maintaining the cold conditions in the region.