Srinagar, Feb 5 — Night temperatures in Kashmir’s tourist hotspots of Gulmarg and Pahalgam plunged several degrees below freezing, even as most parts of the Valley experienced relatively warmer conditions, officials said.
“Gulmarg recorded a minimum of minus 8.0 degrees Celsius, which is about 2.7 degrees lower than the previous night,” an official of the Meteorological Department said.
“Pahalgam also saw a sharp fall, settling at minus 5.6 degrees Celsius.”
However, Srinagar remained much warmer, registering a low of 3.0 degrees Celsius — around 3.6 degrees above the seasonal average.
Other parts of the Valley recorded mixed temperatures. Qazigund settled at 1.0 degree Celsius, Kokernag dipped to minus 0.6 degrees, while Kupwara recorded a minimum of 1.6 degrees Celsius.
Officials said the gradual rise in Srinagar’s night temperature signals the end of the harshest winter phase, ‘Chillai Kalan’, and the onset of the milder cold spell.
“Minimum temperatures have been improving steadily since Chillai Kalan ended,” the official said. “The Valley has now entered ‘Chillai Khurd’, which will be followed by the shorter ‘Chillai Bachha’ period.”