Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh continue to be swept by a cold wave with Jammu recording season’s coldest night at 2.8 degrees Celsius and the Drass town remaining frozen at minus 28.5.
“Light rain/snow is likely in J-K and Ladakh on December 21-22, but the present cold wave condition is expected to continue during the next two to three days.
“No major snowfall is expected in J-K and Ladakh till December 31”, an official of the MET department was quoted as saying by IANS.
Srinagar recorded minus 6.0 and Pahalgam minus 9.2 as the night’s lowest temperature.
Leh town of Ladakh witnessed minus 18.4, Kargil minus 17.0 and Drass minus 28.5 as the minimum temperatures.
Jammu city had 2.8, Katra 3.6, Batote 0.3, Bannihal minus 0.6 and Bhaderwah minus 3.5 as the minimum temperatures.
Night temperatures have started dropping below the freezing point in Kashmir division and Ladakh ahead of the 40-day long period of harsh winter cold called the “Chillai Kalan” in local parlance which begins on 21 December.
The summer flow of all the rivers, streams, springs and lakes in Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh depends upon how well have the perennial water reservoirs in the mountains been replenished by a bountiful snowfall during the Chillai Kalan.