Records Severe Chill
Drass Coldest at Minus 24.5°C, Ladakh Shivers Under Severe Cold Wave

Srinagar, Jan 11: Several areas across Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh recorded extremely low minimum temperatures on Sunday, with Ladakh witnessing the harshest cold conditions and parts of south and north Kashmir also reporting severe sub-zero temperatures.

In Ladakh, Drass emerged as the coldest place in the entire region, recording a minimum temperature of minus 24.5 degrees Celsius. Other parts of the cold desert region also remained under intense cold, with Padum at minus 18.3 degrees Celsius, Hanle at minus 16.3 degrees Celsius, Nyoma at minus 17.7 degrees Celsius, Tangste at minus 17.4 degrees Celsius and Upshi at minus 15.3 degrees Celsius. Leh and Nubra Valley both recorded minus 13.4 degrees Celsius, while Chuchot dipped to minus 13.5 degrees Celsius.

In the Kashmir Valley, Shopian recorded the lowest minimum temperature at minus 8.6 degrees Celsius, making it the coldest place in the Valley. Pulwama and Sopore followed closely, both registering minus 7.7 degrees Celsius. Pahalgam recorded minus 7.6 degrees Celsius, while Anantnag settled at minus 7.1 degrees Celsius. Awantipora and Zethan Rafiabad each recorded minus 6.8 degrees Celsius.

Other parts of the Valley also experienced biting cold, with Gulmarg at minus 6.2 degrees Celsius, Srinagar Airport at minus 6.0 degrees Celsius, Budgam and Baramulla both at minus 6.1 degrees Celsius, Qazigund at minus 5.8 degrees Celsius and Kupwara at minus 5.6 degrees Celsius. Srinagar city recorded a low of minus 5.2 degrees Celsius.

In the Jammu region, temperatures remained comparatively higher, though some areas dipped close to or below the freezing point. Bhaderwah recorded minus 2.0 degrees Celsius, Rajouri minus 1.6 degrees Celsius and Samba minus 0.7 degrees Celsius, while Udhampur settled at 0.8 degrees Celsius. Jammu city recorded a minimum of 4.0 degrees Celsius.

Weather officials said the persistence of clear skies and dry conditions has contributed to sharp nocturnal cooling, particularly in Ladakh and interior parts of the Kashmir Valley. [KNT]