JAMMU/SRINAGAR : While dense fog has affected train, vehicular and air traffic in many parts of northern region, the cold wave conditions continued unabated in Jammu and Kashmir with Srinagar witnessing minus 6.0 degree Celsius temperature for the second consecutive night.Jammu witnessed night temperature of 2.8 degree Celsius which is 6.1 degrees below normal. The dense fog engulfed plain areas of Jammu, Samba and Kathua, affecting train and vehicular traffic while some morning flights were also delayed at Jammu. The chopper service at Katra Mata Vaishnodevi, however, operated normally as the weather was clear in district Reasi.In Srinagar City, the temperature remained lowest of the season so far and was minus 4.6 degree Celsius below normal for this time of the year. The mercury has fallen considerably before the onset of the Chillai-e-Kalan, the 40-day long chilliest part of the season, starting on December 21. Parts of the water bodies including Dal lake were frozen and so were the water taps due to sub-zero temperatures. The frozen taps lead to temporary water shortage in the morning.
The mercury in the world famous resort of Gulmarg settled at minus 7.5 degree Celsius, up by 1.0 degree Celsius the previous night. Qazigund had a low of minus 6.5 degree Celsius against minus 6.0 degree Celsius the previous night.
Pahalgam recorded a low of minus 8.7 degree Celsius against minus 8.3 degree Celsius the previous night. Kokernag recorded a low of minus 6.0 degree Celsius against minus 5.1 degree Celsius the previous night.
Kupwara recorded a minimum of minus 6.1 degree Celsius against minus 6.1 degree Celsius the previous night.
Leh had a low of minus 19.5 degree Celsius against last night’s minus 15.3 degree Celsius while Kargil recorded minimum of minus 14.5 degree Celsius and Drass recorded a low of minus 20.7 degree Celsius.
Jammu recorded a minimum temperature of 2.8 degree Celsius today morning which is about 6 degrees below normal. On Saturday, the night temperature remained 1.9 degree C in Jammu which was lowest of the season so far and also broke last 23 years record, the MeT spokesman said.
Katra township recorded a minimum temperature of 2.8 deg C and maximum 15.8 deg C, Bhaderwah tourist resort minimum temperature of minus 2.2 deg C, Batote minus 2.1 while Banihal town a minimum temperature of minus 1 degree C. There was fair weather in most parts of Jammu during mid day and in the afternoon and day temperature remained 17.7 degree C today.
“Mostly dry and cold weather is likely to continue till December 22 forenoon in both J&K and Ladakh,” a MeT official said.
He said light to moderate snowfall is expected at many places of J&K and at scattered places of Ladakh especially along Sonamarg-Drass, Parkachik-Padum axis during evening of December 22 to 25.
“Thereafter, due to the approaching Western Disturbances (WD) leading to some rain and snowfall, we expect gradual fall in day temperature and slight rise in night temperature from December 21 to 26”, he added.
During morning hours, the plain areas of Jammu and Samba besides parts of Kathua witnessed thick envelop of fog. But by the mid day, the weather improved and clear sunny day was witnessed. With this there was slight improvement in day temperature today as compared to last two days. The foggy conditions also hit train and vehicular traffic in the region.
