Overcast conditions lead to rise in min temp across Kashmir

Srinagar: Overcast conditions led to an increase in the minimum temperatures across Kashmir division, with the mercury settling above the freezing point at most places in the Valley, even as the Meteorological department forecast rains or snow over next few days.

The night temperature across Kashmir Valley, except at Gulmarg and Pahalgam, settled above the freezing point last night, an official of the Meteorological Department here said.

He said Srinagar, the summer capital of Jammu and Kashmir, recorded a low of 1.7 degrees Celsius -- an increase of nearly three degrees from the previous night's minus 1.1 degrees Celsius, the official said.

He said Qazigund, the gateway town to the Valley, registered a minimum temperature of 0.8 degree Celsius -- up from the previous night's minus 1.6 degrees Celsius.

The official said the mercury at the famous ski-resort of Gulmarg in north Kashmir settled at minus 5.6 degrees Celsius up from yesterday's minus 6.5 degrees Celsius.

The health resort of Pahalgam in south Kashmir, which serves as a base camp for the annual Amarnath yatra, recorded a low of minus 3.9 degrees Celsius -- an increase of over two degrees from minus 6.4 degrees Celsius yesterday.

The north Kashmir town of Kupwara registered a low of zero degrees Celsius and Kokernag in south recorded a low of 1.6 degrees Celsius, the official said.

Leh, in Ladakh region, was the coldest recorded place in the state as the mercury there settled at a low of minus 13.3 degrees Celsius -- an increase of three degrees from the previous nights minus 16.3 degrees Celsius.

The nearby Kargil town recorded a low of minus 9.8 degrees Celsius, the official said.

The Meteorological Department has forecast another spell of wet weather in Kashmir from today.

The official said there is possibility of isolated to scattered rainfall or snow over two days from today, while there are chances of scattered rains or snow over four days from February 17.