Srinagar

Cold conditions returned to Kashmir on Tuesday after light snowfall was recorded in some higher reaches of the Valley, leading to a drop in night temperatures, officials said.

Under the influence of a feeble western disturbance, light snowfall occurred on Monday night in a few high-altitude areas, including the Mughal Road and upper reaches of Ganderbal district, they said.

Gulmarg in north Kashmir’s Baramulla district was the coldest place in Jammu and Kashmir, recording a minimum temperature of minus 8.6 degrees Celsius.

Srinagar registered a low of minus 4 degrees Celsius, down from minus 3.6 degrees Celsius the previous night.

In south Kashmir, tourist resort Pahalgam recorded a minimum temperature of minus 6.8 degrees Celsius, while Qazigund, the gateway town of the Valley, settled at minus 3 degrees Celsius.

Kokernag recorded a low of minus 2 degrees Celsius and Kupwara minus 3.1 degrees Celsius, officials said.

The Valley is currently experiencing ‘Chilla-e-Kalan’, the harshest 40-day winter period marked by intense cold, frozen water bodies and the highest likelihood of snowfall.

Despite the cold spell, the plains of Kashmir have not received any snowfall so far this winter.

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has forecast the possibility of light snowfall over isolated higher reaches of north and central Kashmir during the day.

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Thereafter, weather conditions are expected to remain dry but cloudy till January 20.