Severe cold weakens grip on Kashmir as mercury rises

People of Kashmir Valley and Ladakh region got some respite from virulent cold snap as the mercury appreciated at most places due to overcast condition and intermittent snowfall.
Snowfall continued intermittently across Kashmir Valley, including its summer capital Srinagar, during the night with Z-Gali in frontier district of Kupwara recording the highest four feet of snow.
Leh in frontier region of Ladakh was the coldest place in the state recording a low of minus 11.0 degrees Celsius compared to yesterday's minus 12.4 degrees Celsius.
Kargil, also in Ladakh, was the second coldest recorded place with a minimum of minus 9.2 degrees Celsius against minus 12.1 degrees celsius the previous night, a MET department spokesman said.

Srinagar which experienced about two inches of fresh snow, recorded a low of minus 1.9 degrees Celsius as against yesterday's low of minus 1.7 degrees celsius, the spokesman said.
The famous ski-resort of Gulmarg, which recorded 1.5 feet of snow, was one of the coldest recorded place in the valley with a low of minus 7.0 degrees Celsius. The hill resort has recorded a minimum of minus 9.4 degrees Celsius yesterday.

Pahalgam hill resort in south Kashmir, which serves as the base camp during the annual Amarnath yatra, recorded a low of minus 5.8 degrees celsius against yesterday's low of minus 6.2 degrees Celsius. The hill resort recorded about six inches of snowfall since yesterday.

Kupwara in north Kashmir recorded eight inches of snowfall witnessed a dip in the night temperature which settled at minus 2.0 degrees Celsius compared to yesterday's minus 1.3 degrees Celsius, the spokesman said.
The night temperature witnessed a two degree increase in south Kashmir's Kokernag hill resort where the night temperature settled at minus 4.5 degrees Celsius, the spokesman said.
The MET office has predicted moderate to heavy snowfall till January 10 under the influence of western disturbance.