Srinagar

Kashmir is likely to witness a spell of wet weather, including moderate to heavy snowfall in the higher reaches, as the Valley braces for the onset of ‘Chillai-Kalan’—the harsh 40-day winter period—beginning December 21, officials said on Saturday.

The Meteorological Department has forecast wet conditions on December 20 and 21, coinciding with the start of ‘Chillai-Kalan’, which lasts till January 31 and is marked by the coldest phase of winter in the Valley.

According to the MeT office, moderate to heavy snowfall is expected in higher altitudes, while light to moderate rain or snow may occur in the plains. Snowfall chances are highest and most frequent during this period, with temperatures typically dropping sharply across Kashmir.

So far, the Valley has not experienced any major wet spell this winter. The prolonged dry weather has reportedly led to an increase in respiratory ailments such as cough and common cold.

Meanwhile, night temperatures improved slightly across Kashmir. Pulwama recorded the lowest minimum temperature at minus 3.2 degrees Celsius.

Srinagar registered a minimum of minus 0.4 degree Celsius, nearly two degrees higher than the previous night’s minus 2.1 degrees Celsius, officials said.

A thick layer of fog enveloped Srinagar and several other parts of the Valley on Saturday morning, particularly near water bodies.

In south Kashmir, Pahalgam—one of the base camps for the annual Amarnath Yatra—recorded a low of minus 1 degree Celsius, while Kokernag and Qazigund recorded minimum temperatures of 0.8 and minus 1 degree Celsius, respectively.

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Kupwara in north Kashmir settled at minus 0.7 degree Celsius, while Gulmarg recorded a minimum temperature of 2 degrees Celsius, remaining above the freezing point, the weather department said.