Srinagar, Jan 4: Cold tightened its grip on Jammu and Kashmir while Srinagar recorded a low of minus 3.8 degrees Celsius and Jammu experienced the coldest day of the season at 4.7 degrees Celsius.
As temperatures remained several degrees below freezing, parts of water bodies including the Dal Lake froze overnight.
The surface of Dal Lake was covered with a thin layer of ice as Srinagar city recorded a minimum temperature of minus 3.8 degrees Celsius Wednesday night.
The residents living on houseboats faced challenges breaking the ice layer while navigating their boats towards the banks.
Additionally, water supply pipes froze due to extreme cold wave conditions.
The Meteorological Department (MeT) officials here said that Srinagar recorded a minimum of minus 3.8 degrees Celsius for the past two nights, finding itself 1.7 degrees Celsius below the usual temperature for this time of the year.
They said Qazigund recorded a minimum of minus 3.4 degrees Celsius, just a tad above normal.
The MeT officials said that minimum temperate in Pahalgam was recorded at minus 5.1 degrees Celsius, 1.5 degrees Celsius above the seasonal norm.
They said that Kokernag in south Kashmir recorded a minimum of minus 2.4 degrees Celsius.
The MeT officials said that Gulmarg ski resort in Baramulla recorded a minus 4.2 degrees Celsius, and Kupwara recorded minus 3.9 degrees Celsius.
They said that Jammu recorded 4.7 degrees Celsius, a deviation of 2.6 degrees Celsius below the seasonal average.
Banihal, Batote, and Bhaderwah recorded minus 0.4 degrees Celsius, 3.1 degrees Celsius, and 1.1 degrees Celsius.
The MeT has predicted generally cloudy and dry weather over the plains.
“There’s a chance of very light snow in isolated higher reaches on January 4 and 5, followed by mainly dry weather from January 6 and 7,” they said. “On January 8, Kashmir can expect generally cloudy weather, with the possibility of light rain or snow in isolated higher reaches.”