Jammu and Kashmir: Parts of Dal Lake freeze as minimum temp plummeting

Srinagar recorded a low of -5.2 degree Celsius on Wednesday.

A thick layer of frozen surface emerged at major parts of the famous Dal Lake including Chunti Khul, a rivulet connecting it in Srinagar and other water bodies due to further fall in the minimum temperature all across barring Gulmarg.

Srinagar, the summer capital of Jammu and Kashmir recorded a low of minus 5.2 degree Celsius against minus 4.4 degree Celsius recorded the previous night. It was 3.1 degree Celsius below normal during this period of the season, the weather department said.

Tourist resort of Pahalgam in south Kashmir was the coldest place in Kashmir valley with a low of minus 9.4 degree Celsius against minus 7.2 degree Celsius the previous night.

Gulmarg in north Kashmir showed a slight improvement recorded at minus 8.4 degree Celsius on Wednesday against the minus 9.0 degree Celsius a day ago.

Qazigund on Srinagar-Jammu national highway in south Kashmir plunges to minus 5.2 degree Celsius against minus 5.0 degree Celsius while Kukernag had a low of minus 3.8 degree Celsius on Wednesday.

Kupwara recorded a low of minus 6.0 degree Celsius against minus 5.3 degree Celsius. It was 3.5 degrees below normal for this time of the season, MeT office said.

Meteorological department forecasts mainly clear and dry weather till January 7 late afternoon except further fall in minimum temperature across Jammu and Kashmir. There would be warmer days & colder nights till January 6 with moderate to dense fog over plains of Jammu.

Weather will remain mostly Cloudy with possibility of light to moderate rain/snow over many places of J&K during 2nd week of January. On January 7 the possibility of light snow over scattered places towards night and January 80.10 Cloudy with possibility of snowfall/rain in plains of Jammu at many places of J&K (70% chance).

Cloudy with light to moderate rain/snow over many places of J&K during January 11-13.

The MeT has also issued an advisory for the traveller and transporters advised to plan their journey accordingly especially over Sonamarg-Zojila-Gumri axis, Razdan pass, Sinthan pass, Sadhna pass, Mughal Road etc.

(With UNI inputs)