Srinagar, Jan 7 (IANS) Srinagar got a slight respite from the cold wave conditions as a nightlong cloud cover brought up the minimum temperature to minus 2.2 degrees Celsius Friday. The weather office has forecast snowfall in the Kashmir Valley.
‘The minimum temperature was minus 2.2 degrees Celsius in Srinagar today (Friday) in contrast to minus 5 degrees Thursday,’ said Bilal Ahmad, scientific assistant at the weather office here.
‘The improvement in the minimum temperature is because of the nightlong cloud cover here. We are expecting light snowfall in the plains of the valley and moderate snowfall in the hills by Saturday,’ he added.
The minimum temperature in Leh town of Ladakh region was minus 9.8 degrees Celsius while it wasa trifle colder at minus 10 degrees in Kargil town, the official said.
In the north Kashmir ski resort of Gulmarg, the minimum temperature was recorded at minus 6.5 degrees while in south Kashmir Pahalgam hill station, the minimum was minus 4 degrees, he added.
A western disturbance, which originated in the Caspian Sea, is at present active over the valley and the Ladakh region. This, according to the weather office, is likely to result in snowfall here by Saturday.