Srinagar
Cold wave continues in Jammu and Kashmir and on Friday the minimum temperature was minus 4.3 degrees Celsius in Srinagar and minus 10 degrees Celsius in Pahalgam. According to Meteorological Department officials, cold wave continues in Jammu and Kashmir and due to clear sky at night, the minimum temperature may fall further. On Friday, the minimum temperature was minus 4.3 degrees Celsius in Srinagar, minus 8.1 degrees Celsius in Gulmarg and minus 10 degrees Celsius in Pahalgam.
The minimum night temperature was 4.9 degrees Celsius in Jammu city, 6.1 degrees Celsius in Katra city, 3 degrees Celsius in Batote, 4.9 degrees Celsius in Banihal and zero degrees Celsius in Bhaderwah. According to the information released by the Meteorological Department, the weather will be generally dry with cloudy weather in the evening/night on January 10. On January 11, there will be generally cloudy sky with light rain in the plains of Jammu and snowfall in some higher reaches of Jammu division and Kashmir division. The weather will be generally dry from 12 to 14 January. January 15 to 16 will be generally cloudy with light snowfall at some places. According to the department, cold wave will prevail in some places.
The 40-day severe winter period, locally known as ‘Chillai Kalan’, began on 21 December and will end on 30 January. Most of the water bodies in the valley including lakes, rivers, ponds and wells have partially frozen.
Morning fog and cold have greatly restricted pedestrian and vehicular movement in the valley. A loose tweed overgarment called a phiran and a woven clay firepot in a willow wicker basket called a kangdi are two favorite things to see in the valley during the long winter months. To suit its design for office goers, tailors have created pherans of different designs and styles. As a result the pheran has become a fashionable garment throughout the country in the last few years during the winter months.