Fresh snow brings relief in Kashmir
December 20th, 2011 - 3:11 pm ICT by IANSSrinagar, Dec 20 (IANS) The fortnight-long cold wave across the Kashmir Valley broke Tuesday as mountains received fresh snowfall, making locals heave a sigh of relief.
The Sonamarg tourist resort received 10 cm of fresh snowfall Tuesday while there was snowfall in Pahalgam and Gulmarg as well, Sonam Lotus, director of the meteorological office, told IANS.
The official said the western disturbance was still active over the valley and more rain and snowfall were likely in many places.
Because of the overcast night sky, the minimum temperatures have risen, providing relief to locals from the severe cold wave that lashed the valley for more than 15 days.
“The minimum temperature was minus 0.3 degrees in Srinagar, minus 1.2 in Pahalgam and minus 7.0 in Gulmarg,” said another official.
Leh in the Ladakh region remained the coldest town in the state with a minimum temperature of minus 6.4 degrees.
The 40-day period of severe winter cold known locally as the ‘Chillai Kalan’ begins here Wednesday.
Traditionally, the Chillai Kalan is the period during which snowfall in the mountains replenishes the perennial water reservoirs of the valley that sustain scores of local rivers and streams during the summer months.
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- Biting cold thaws a little, but fog disrupts travel (Roundup) - Dec 20, 2011
- Chill tightens grip over north India, trains still fog-hit (Roundup) - Dec 23, 2011
- Mercury rises but Kashmir still freezing - Dec 29, 2011
- Kashmir and Ladakh in deep freeze, Leh coldest at minus 22 - Jan 23, 2012
- Snowy day forecast in Kashmir Valley, mountains - Dec 19, 2011
- Kashmir temperatures fall again - Jan 20, 2012
- Season's first snow in Kashmir brings respite - Dec 30, 2010
- Rains, snow break long dry spell in Kashmir - Dec 07, 2011
- Slight respite from chill in Kashmir, snowfall likely - Jan 12, 2011
- Snowfall, rain likely in Kashmir - Jan 04, 2012
- Srinagar has coldest night in 16 years - Jan 14, 2012
Tags: cold wave, fortnight, fresh snow, gulmarg, kalan, kashmir, kashmir valley, ladakh region, meteorological office, minimum temperature, minimum temperatures, night sky, pahalgam, rivers and streams, sigh of relief, snowfall, srinagar, tourist resort, water reservoirs, winter cold