Cold wave continues in J&K, Ladakh coldest at -22 °C

The cold wave in Kashmir and Ladakh region continued unabated on Thursday with the minimum temperature hovering several degrees below the freezing point even as the MeT Department here predicted more rains and snow in the next three days.

Due to frost and highly slippery road conditions, very few commuters came out in the morning in Srinagar city and elsewhere in the valley.

Drass, in Ladakh region, which is widely recognized as the second coldest inhabited place in the world, was the coldest in Jammu and Kashmir with minus 22.0 degrees Celsius, a MeT official said.

Kargil town, also in Ladakh region was the second coldest place in the state recording a minimum of minus 20.2 degrees while neighbouring Leh town recorded a minimum of 2.0 degrees Celsius.

Srinagar, with minus 1.3 degrees Celsius recorded improvement from the last night’s minus 2.1 degrees, he said. Pahalgam tourist resort in south Kashmir was the coldest recorded place in the valley as the mercury settled at minus 10 degrees Celsius compared to last night's minus 4.2 degrees while famous ski resort of Gulmarg in north recorded a low of minus 5.1 degree Celsius as compared to previous night's minus 6 degrees.

The weather office has forecast heavy snowfall in the valley from January 19 to 23. Kashmir is currently under the grip of 'Chillai-Kalan' – the 40-day harshest period of winter when the chances of snowfall are most frequent and maximum, and the temperature drops considerably.