Srinagar Jan 31 PTI The minimum temperature across Kashmir improved as Chilla-i-Kalan -- the harshest winter period when the chances of snowfall are maximum and most frequent - ended officials said on MondayHowever the minimum temperature settled below the freezing point across the valley on Sunday night the officials saidChilla-i-Kalan -- the 40-day harshest winter period which began on December 21 last year -- is a period when a cold wave grips the region and the temperature drops considerably leading to the freezing of water bodies including the famous Dal Lake here as well as the water supply lines in several parts of the valleyThe chances of snowfall are the most frequent and maximum during this period and most areas especially in the higher reaches receive heavy to very heavy snowfallHowever the Chilla-i-Kalan this year was not harsh like the last year and there was less snowfall during the periodEven after the end of Chilla-i-Kalan the cold wave continues in Kashmir with a 20-day-long Chillai-Khurd small cold and a 10-day-long Chillai-Bachha baby cold However both these periods are considered less harshSrinagar the summer capital of Jammu and Kashmir recorded a low of minus 16 degrees Celsius up from minus 23 degrees Celsius the previous night they saidThe famous ski-resort of Gulmarg in north Kashmir recorded a low of minus 66 degrees Celsius up from minus 74 degrees Celsius the previous nightPahalgam tourist resort in south Kashmir which also serves as the base camp for the annual Amarnath yatra recorded a low of minus 48 degrees Celsius up from minus 7 degrees Celsius the previous night they saidThe officials said Qazigund recorded a minimum of minus 28 degree Celsius while the nearby south Kashmir town of Kokernag recorded a low of minus 22 degrees CelsiusThe minimum in Kupwara in north Kashmir settled at a low of minus 06 degrees CelsiusThe MeT Office has said there is a possibility of rain or snow at scattered places over the next 24 hoursAfter that there are chances of a wet spell from February 2 to 4 as well it said PTI SSB MIJ DV DV

Srinagar Jan 29 PTI There was some respite from cold wave conditions in Kashmir as the minimum temperature improved across the valley even as the Meteorological department said there is a possibility of rainsnow at scattered places on Monday According to officials the mercury rose across the Kashmir Valley on Friday night by several notches at some places Srinagar the summer capital of Jammu and Kashmir recorded a low of minus 1 degree Celsius up from minus 36 degrees Celsius the previous night they said The famous tourist destination of Gulmarg in north Kashmir recorded a low of minus 75 degrees Celsius up from minus 104 degrees Celsius the previous night Pahalgam tourist spot in south Kashmir which also serves as the base camp for the annual Amarnath Yatra recorded a low of minus 28 degrees Celsius an increase of nine notches from the previous night The officials said Qazigund recorded a minimum temperature of minus 31 degree Celsius while the nearby south Kashmir town of Kokernag registered a low of minus 33 degrees Celsius The mercury in Kupwara in north Kashmir settled at a low of minus 15 degrees CelsiusThe MeT Office has said the weather is likely to remain dry till Monday when there is a possibility of rainsnow at scattered places After that there are chances of a wet spell on February 2 and 3 it said Kashmir is currently under the grip of the 40-day harshest winter period known as Chilla-i-Kalan which began on December 21 last yearChilla-i-Kalan is a period when a cold wave grips the region and the temperature drops considerably leading to the freezing of water bodies including the famous Dal Lake here as well as the water supply lines in several parts of the valley The chances of snowfall are the most frequent and maximum during this period and most areas especially in the higher reaches receive heavy to very heavy snowfallThe Chilla-i-Kalan will end on January 31 but the cold wave continues even after that in Kashmir with a 20-day-long Chillai-Khurd small cold and a 10-day-long Chillai-Bachha baby cold PTI SSB CK

Srinagar Dec 30 PTI Cold wave conditions intensified across Kashmir as the minimum temperature at most places in the valley went down even as the Meteorological Department has forecast further fall in the temperature over the next few days officials said on ThursdayBarring Gulmarg the famous skiing resort in north Kashmir the minimum temperature at all other weather stations in the Kashmir valley went down on Wednesday night the officials saidThey said the resort recorded a low of minus 96 degrees Celsius up from minus 104 degrees the previous nightThe officials said Pahalgam which serves as the base camp for the annual Amarnath yatra recorded a low of minus 89 degrees Celsius down from minus 66 degrees Celsius the previous nightThey said Srinagar recorded the minimum temperature of minus 4 degrees Celsius on Wednesday night down from the previous nights minus 23 degrees CelsiusThey said Qazigund the gateway town to the valley recorded the minimum of minus 42 degrees CelsiusThe nearby south Kashmir town of Kokernag recorded a low of minus 36 degrees CelsiusThe minimum temperature in Kupwara in north Kashmir settled at a low of minus 44 degrees CelsiusThe MET Office has forecast further fall in the minimum temperature over the next few daysIt said there is possibility of light rainsnow at a few places mostly in higher reaches over two days from January 1 while as there is likelihood of widespread snowrain of moderate intensity during January 4 to 6Kashmir valley is currently under the grip of the 40-day harshest winter period known as Chilla-i-Kalan which began on December 21Chilla-i-Kalan is a period when a cold wave grips the region and the temperature drops considerably leading to the freezing of water bodies including the famous Dal Lake here as well as the water supply lines in several parts of the valleyThe chances of snowfall are the most frequent and maximum during this period and most areas especially in the higher reaches receive heavy to very heavy snowfallThe Chilla-i-Kalan will end on January 31 but the cold wave continues even after that in Kashmir with a 20-day-long Chillai-Khurd small cold and a 10-day-long Chillai-Bachha baby cold PTI SSB DV DV

Srinagar Dec 24 PTI The minimum temperature at most places in Kashmir settled above the freezing point even as the weatherman has forecast light to moderate snowfall at isolated places in the Union Territory over two days from Sunday officials said on Friday Many areas in the higher reaches of the valley including the Gulmarg resort had received snowfall on Thursday The officials said owing to the cloud cover the minimum temperature across Kashmir except Gulmarg and Pahalgam settled above the freezing point on Thursday night Srinagar recorded a low of 24 degrees Celsius on Thursday night slightly down from the previous nights 26 degrees Celsius Qazigund the gateway town to the valley recorded a minimum temperature of 12 degrees Celsius while Kokernag recorded a low of minus 12 degrees Celsius the officials said The mercury in Kupwara in north Kashmir settled at a low of 22 degrees Celsius Pahalgam which serves as the base camp for the annual Amarnath yatra recorded a low of minus 13 degrees Celsius down from 03 degrees Celsius the previous night The mercury in Gulmarg settled at a low of minus 51 degrees Celsius as compared to the previous nights minus 37 degrees Celsius The MeT Office said a spell of greater intensity than Thursdays is most likely during December 26-28 A western disturbance of greater intensity is likely during 26 evening to 28 forenoon Due to this light to moderate snowfall two to three inches in plains of Kashmir moderate to heavy over higher reaches of J-K Zojila-Minamarg axis and light snowfall at scattered places of Ladakh especially Kargil-Zanskar area the weatherman said The 40-day harshest winter period known as Chilla-i-Kalan which began on Tuesday is a period when a cold wave grips the region and the temperature drops considerably leading to the freezing of water bodies including the famous Dal Lake here as well as the water supply lines in several parts of the valley The chances of snowfall are the most frequent and maximum during this period and most areas especially in the higher reaches receive heavy snowfall The Chilla-i-Kalan will end on January 31 but the cold wave continues even after that in Kashmir with a 20-day-long Chillai-Khurd small cold and a 10-day-long Chillai-Bachha baby cold PTI SSB MIJ SNE SNE

Srinagar Nov 22 PTI Srinagar recorded the coldest night of the season so far at minus 16 degrees Celsius as cold conditions continued in Kashmir on Monday and the minimum temperature settled below the freezing point across the valley officials saidThe valley has been experiencing sub-zero nights for the past few days as the mercury has gone two to three degrees below normal for this part of the season at most of the places MET officials saidSrinagar recorded a low of minus 16 degrees Celsius on Sunday night down from minus 13 degrees Celsius the previous night they saidThe officials said Pahalgam which serves as the base camp for the annual Amarnath yatra recorded a low of minus 37 degrees Celsius Pahalgam was the coldest recorded place in KashmirGulmarg resort in north Kashmirs Baramulla district recorded a minimum temperature of minus 08 degrees CelsiusThe mercury in Kupwara in north Kashmir settled at a low of minus 29 degrees CelsiusQazigund the gateway town to the valley recorded minus 2 degrees Celsius while as Kokernag also in south registered a low of minus 1 degrees Celsius The MET Office has said the weather will most likely remain dry but cold till the end of this monthHowever there is possibility of light snowfall over some parts of north Kashmir on November 25 it saidThe wintry conditions in Kashmir have set-in much ahead of the beginning of extreme harsh weather conditions which usually start around the third week of December Chillai Kalan the 40-day period of harsh winter in Kashmir begins on December 21 every year PTI SSB DV DV