Srinagar: Kashmir is experiencing its harshest winter in over two decades, as the region’s infamous 40-day “Chillai-Kalan” cold snap commenced on Saturday. Srinagar, the region’s summer capital, recorded a bone-chilling -8.5 degree Celsius, marking the coldest December night in at least 24 years and the lowest December temperature recorded there in over two decades. This extreme cold is attributed to the La Niña effect, which has intensified the region’s winter conditions.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) had predicted a significant drop in temperature, and their forecast proved accurate. Srinagar’s temperature plummeted by 2.3 degrees Celsius compared to the previous night’s low of -6.2 degrees Celsius. The current temperature is only the third-lowest December reading for Srinagar since records began in 1891. While the all-time record low for Srinagar stands at -12.8 degrees Celsius (recorded on December 13, 1934), the -8.5 degree Celsius reading surpasses the previous lowest temperature of this century, recorded on December 28, 2018, at -7.7 degrees Celsius.
The extreme cold has spread across the entire region. Qazigund recorded a minimum temperature of -8.2 degrees Celsius, while Pahalgam experienced a low of -8.6 degrees Celsius. Kupwara reached its lowest December temperature since 1998, at -7.2 degrees Celsius. South Kashmir bore the brunt of the cold, with Larnoo hitting -9.3 degrees Celsius, Shopian dropping to -10.4 degrees Celsius, and Pulwama registering -10.3 degrees Celsius. Other areas, such as Baramulla (-6.2 degrees Celsius), Bandipora (-7.4 degrees Celsius), and the popular tourist destinations of Sonamarg (-8.8 degrees Celsius) and Gulmarg (-6.2 degrees Celsius), also experienced sub-zero temperatures.
The frigid conditions extended to the Ladakh region. Leh experienced a minimum temperature of -12.5 degrees Celsius, while Kargil plunged to -14.3 degrees Celsius. Jammu, in contrast, recorded a comparatively milder minimum temperature of 5.4 degrees Celsius.
The IMD attributes the severity of this cold wave to clear skies and the absence of precipitation. The “Chillai-Kalan” period will continue until January 29th, but the harsh winter conditions are expected to persist beyond that, with the following 20-day “Chillai-Khurd” and 10-day “Chillai-Bachha” periods also predicted to be significantly cold. The IMD anticipates further snowfall in higher altitudes and rain in the plains. The La Niña effect, which causes cooler-than-average sea surface temperatures in the Pacific Ocean, is expected to contribute to prolonged and severe winter conditions.
