Mercury drops across Kashmir Valley, dry weather expected in next week

Srinagar: Barring Gulmarg, the minimum temperatures dropped across Kashmir Valley with mercury in Srinagar and Kokernag falling below sub-zero level again, weatherman said on Sunday.

Quoting an unnamed official from meteorological department, GNS reported that Srinagar recorded a low of minus 0.4°C against the previous night’s 1.2°C. It was minus 0.2°C below the normal of 0.2°C for this time of the year in the summer capital, the official said.

The temperatures this season, especially last month, remained far below normal. On January 31, the mercury plunged to minus 8.8°C, the coldest January night recorded in Srinagar after 30 years.

Qazigund, the gateway town of J&K, recorded a low of minus 3.2°C against minus 2.0°C on the previous night while the mercury settled at minus 3.8°C against 2.3°C in the world-famous tourist resort of Pahalgam on the previous night.

Kokernag recorded a low of minus 0.5°C against minus 0.2°C on the previous night.

The mercury settled at minus 1.8°C in Kupwara against minus 0.3°C on the previous night while Gulmarg, the world-famous skiing resort, recorded a low of minus 3.0°C against minus 3.8°C earlier night, he said.

The weatherman has forecast mainly dry weather over the plains of J&K in the next week. (GNS)