Srinagar recorded the coldest night of winter to date, with temperature dipping to a low of minus 4.1 degrees Celsius on Thursday night, the Meteorological Department said.
The south Kashmir district of Shopian emerged as the coldest place in the Valley, with the mercury plummeting to minus 6.6 degrees Celsius. Pahalgam, a popular tourist destination, recorded minus 6.5 degrees Celsius, while the famed ski resort Gulmarg experienced a minus 4.3 degrees Celsius low.
Other areas also recorded sub-zero temperatures: Qazigund, the gateway town to Kashmir, reported minus 4.4 degrees Celsius; Kupwara in north Kashmir saw minus 3.4 degrees Celsius; and Kokernag in south Kashmir registered minus 2.4 degrees Celsius.
The intense cold spell is being exacerbated by the ongoing La Niña phenomenon, which influences global weather patterns, including those in Kashmir. This climate pattern is characterized by cooler-than-average sea surface temperatures in the Pacific Ocean, which disrupt atmospheric circulation and enhance the prevalence of cold, dry air over South Asia.
In Kashmir, La Niña often intensifies winter conditions by reducing cloud cover and precipitation, leading to sharper drops in night temperatures. The phenomenon also delays the arrival of western disturbances, which are critical for bringing snow and rain to the region during winter. This results in prolonged dry spells and harsher cold waves, as currently being experienced.
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No significant weather activity is forecast until December 16, with dry weather expected to persist until December 7. Residents and visitors have been advised to brace for continued cold conditions as the effects of La Niña keep temperatures at extreme lows.
Meanwhile, Zojila, connecting Kashmir with Ladakh, reported a bone-chilling minus 18 degrees Celsius.
The upper reaches in Kashmir, such as Gulmarg and Sonmarg, and Kishtwar in Jammu have also witnessed snowfall. According to doctors, severe cold increases the risk of respiratory problems and heart attacks. The valley also witnesses frequent power outages due to the drop in hydel power generation as the volume of water in the rivers decreases.
