Srinagar: Jammu and Kashmir is set to witness a spell of wet weather, with predictions of rain and snow at several places, according to the local weather departments. With the ‘Chillai-Kalan’ — the 40-day harsh winter period in Kashmir – beginning on Sunday, the local meteorological department on Saturday forecast moderate to heavy snowfall in the higher reaches.
Chillai Kalan begins on December 21 every year and ends on January 31.
A spell of wet weather on December 20-21 in Kashmir is likely to coincide with the yearly phenomenon, while light to moderate precipitation may affect the plains, the weather office said.
Chances of snowfall are maximum and most frequent during this period, with temperatures dropping sharply across the valley.
The valley has not witnessed any major wet spell so far this winter. The dry weather has led to an increase in ailments such as cough and the common cold.
Officials further said the night temperature improved across the valley, with Pulwama emerging as the coldest place with a minimum of minus 3.2 degrees Celsius, according to the Met office.
Srinagar recorded a low of minus 0.4 degrees Celsius, about 2 degrees up from the previous night’s minus 2.1 degrees Celsius, they said.
A thick layer of fog engulfed Srinagar and most other parts of the valley on Saturday morning, especially near the water bodies.
In south Kashmir, Pahalgam, one of the base camps for the Amarnath Yatra, recorded a low of minus 1 degree Celsius, while Kokernag and Qazigund recorded 0.8 and minus 1 degree Celsius, respectively.
The temperature in Kupwara in north Kashmir settled at minus 0.7 degrees Celsius, the weather department said.
In Gulmarg, the minimum temperature settled above the freezing point at 2 degrees Celsius, it said.
With PTI inputs