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‘Chilai Kalan’ ends without snowfall in plains

KT NEWS SERVICE. Dated: 2/1/2018 2:07:49 PM

SRINAGAR, Jan 31: The 40-day long “Chilai Kalan”, considered as the harshest period of winter in Kashmir, ended today without any snowfall in plain areas.
Light snowfall did occur in upper reaches a few times but unlike last year no major snowfall occured this time. The lack of major snowfall in Chillai Kalan this time is a cause of concern as this can lead to shortage of water during summer, said weather experts.
Meanwhile, nightlong cloud cover today further improved the minimum temperatures bringing relief from intense cold wave conditions in Jammu and Kashmir.
"Light rain or snow is likely to occur in the valley on Thursday and Friday. Night temperatures have improved since Tuesday and are likely to improve further during the next two days," a Met official said.
The minimum temperature in Srinagar was 3.5 degrees Celsius as it remained above the freezing point for the second consecutive day.
Pahalgam recorded minus 2.5 while Gulmarg was at minus 3.6.
Kargil town was the coldest town in the state at minus 15 followed by Leh at minus 7.1.
Minimum temperatures throughout the Jammu region also remained above the freezing point.
Jammu city recorded 8.6, Katra 10.3, Batote 5.7, Banihal 3.7, Bhaderwah 2.5 and Udhampur 6.2 degrees Celsius.
A government agency today issued an avalanche warning in several districts of Jammu and Kashmir for next 24 hours, shortly after a 6.2 magnitude earthquake on the Afghanistan-Tajikistan border region jolted parts of north India.
The Snow and Avalanche Study Establishment has "informed that medium danger avalanche warning of level-3 exists in higher reaches of Baramulla district and low danger warning of level-2 in Kupwara, Bandipore, Shopian and Kargil Districts," an official spokesman here said.