Kashmiris miss ‘snow blanket’ this ‘Chillai Kalan’
Srinagar: Unlike the previous years, people of Kashmir this winter season have missed a chance to witness a snow blanket in the ‘Chillai Kalan’, a 40-day harshest winter period. The harshest winter period of the season ended on Wednesday.
The forecasters in the local Meteorological department informed ‘Kashmir Vision’ that the next month (February) would also pass without any major snowfall or rainfall.
“As on date, there is no prediction of any snowfall and rainfall,” Director Meteorological department (MeT), Sonum Lotus said.
“According to the current prediction, the February month would also end without any major snowfall or rains. Yes, there could be occasional snowfall and rains as well but so far there is no predictions of heavy snowfall or rainfall during this month as well,” he said.
Notably, the dry spell continued across the state from the past several weeks while some of the hilly areas in the Valley received a fresh snowfall measuring a few inches during the last couple of weeks.
However, Deputy Director MeT, Mukhtar Ahmad informed this newspaper that there is possibility of light snowfall in between Feb, 7, 8 and 9.
“We are expecting light snowfall on Feb 07, 08 and 09 currently but there is no prediction of heavy snowfall,” he said.
He further informed that there was improvement in minimum temperature from yesterday.
“Due to the cloudy weather today, the maximum temperature went down today but it will improve following the improvement in weather conditions. The minimum temperature also improved from yesterday as the temperature was recorded around 2 to 3 degrees,” he said.
Notably, the newspaper quoting the officials of MeT department had said that this winter was quite warmer as compared to the previous years.
While the officials also said the persisting dry spell could lead to water shortage for agricultural purposes in summer besides power shortage too as the generation capacity will fall.
Meanwhile, Srinagar, the summer capital, recorded a minimum temperature of 3.5 degrees Celsius, an official of the Met department said here.
He said all weather stations in the valley – except Pahalgam and Gulmarg – recorded minimum temperatures above the freezing point.
Gulmarg, a popular ski-resort, recorded a low of -3.6C, while Pahalgam – a health resort which serves as one of the base camps for the annual Amarnath Yatra – recorded a low of -2.5C last night, the official said.
Kargil town of Ladakh region continued to freeze at – 15.0C for the third consecutive night, while the nearby Leh town recorded a low of -7.1C.
KV Correspondent
