SRINAGAR, OCT 25: Kashmir witnessed a sharp chill on Sunday morning, with minimum temperatures slipping below the freezing point at Pahalgam and Gulmarg, while Srinagar recorded a minimum of 2.9°C, according to the latest weather data issued by the India Meteorological Department (IMD), Meteorological Centre Srinagar. The falling mercury at several higher-altitude destinations and parts of south Kashmir reflected the intensifying cold conditions across the Valley, while the Jammu division continued to record comparatively warmer temperatures.
Pahalgam in south Kashmir recorded a minimum temperature of minus 0.3°C, while the famous ski resort of Gulmarg in north Kashmir settled at minus 0.4°C. Both destinations recorded temperatures below their respective seasonal normals, with Pahalgam 0.9°C below normal and Gulmarg 2.4°C below normal. The cold conditions were also evident at other locations, with Shopian recording minus 0.6°C and Awantipur registering a minimum of 1.0°C in the AWS and other-station observations.
Srinagar, the summer capital, recorded a minimum temperature of 2.9°C, which was 0.9°C below its normal of 3.8°C. The city had recorded a maximum temperature of 18.1°C on the previous day, against the normal maximum of 21.0°C, indicating that daytime temperatures also remained below seasonal averages. However, a separate AWS reading listed Srinagar’s minimum at 1.8°C and maximum at 17.6°C.
Among other major weather stations in Kashmir, Qazigund recorded a minimum of 2.0°C, Kupwara 3.0°C and Kokernag 3.4°C. Qazigund’s minimum was 1.3°C below normal, while Kokernag recorded a temperature 1.9°C below its normal minimum of 5.3°C. Kupwara, in contrast, remained marginally warmer than its normal minimum of 2.8°C.
Daytime temperatures across the Valley also reflected the prevailing chill. Qazigund recorded a maximum of 20.6°C on the previous day, followed by Kupwara at 18.2°C, while Kokernag and Pahalgam recorded maximum temperatures of 14.2°C each. Gulmarg remained considerably colder, with the maximum temperature settling at just 6.8°C, against its normal of 9.2°C. Pahalgam’s maximum of 14.2°C was 3.7°C below its normal of 17.9°C.
Light rainfall was recorded at several locations across Jammu and Kashmir during the preceding 24 hours. Rajpura in Poonch district received the highest rainfall at 8.0 mm, followed by Kokernag with 3.2 mm. Bhaderwah recorded 1.0 mm, Kupwara 0.6 mm, Batote 0.6 mm, Gulmarg 0.4 mm and Pahalgam 0.2 mm, while Srinagar reported trace rainfall.
The AWS and other-station observations further highlighted the spread of cold conditions across south and central Kashmir. Pulwama recorded a minimum of 0.7°C, Kulgam 3.1°C, Ganderbal 3.2°C, Bandipora 3.7°C and Baramulla 4.0°C. Banihal recorded a minimum of 3.7°C in the Jammu division, while Bhaderwah registered 2.8°C and Batote 9.8°C.
In contrast, temperatures remained relatively higher across the plains of the Jammu division. Jammu city recorded a maximum of 26.2°C and a minimum of 14.1°C, while Kathua registered a maximum of 28.8°C and a minimum of 15.4°C. Katra recorded a maximum of 22.0°C and a minimum of 12.6°C, underscoring the considerable temperature difference between the Jammu plains and Kashmir’s higher-altitude areas.
The IMD data listed sunrise in Srinagar at 6:45 am and sunset at 5:45 pm on Sunday, while Jammu recorded sunrise at 6:43 am and sunset at 5:47 pm.
With minimum temperatures falling below freezing at Pahalgam, Gulmarg and Shopian, the latest observations underline the increasingly cold mornings across several parts of Kashmir. The below-normal readings at multiple stations, coupled with light rainfall at scattered locations, have reinforced the contrast between the chilly Valley and the relatively warmer Jammu plains.
