Srinagar, Dec 7 (Agency) Parts of famous Dal Lake in Srinagar freezed as the minimum temperature in Kashmir valley continues to drop. The valley is in a severe grip of cold wave.Meteorological Centre Srinagar forecast of mainly Dry weather with haze till December 8. A fresh WD likely to affect J&K and adjoining areas from December 9 under the influence of above system, Possibility of Light snow over plains and lower reaches, light to moderate snow over middle & higher reaches during December 9 (evening) to December 10 (evening) particularly over North, Northwestern, central parts of Kashmir & South Kashmir and light rain at isolated to scattered places of Jammu Division. Another feeble WD most likely during December 12 night to 13 forenoon with Possibility of Light snow over higher reaches of Kupwara, Bandipora, and Ganderbal is expected, MeT office said.
Small rivulets, nallas and streams connecting the interior parts of Dal Lake were covered with a thick layer of frozen ice sheets as cold conditions prevailed in Srinagar with temperature plummeting to minus 3.0 degree Celsius on Wednesday which is minus 2.4 degree Celsius below normal during this period of the season for the summer capital of Jammu and Kashmir.Shikara men were seen breaking the icy surface of the Dal Lake to make way for their boats to proceed in the waters in cold weather conditions coupled with fog and haze. Srinagar is facing intense cold weather conditions for the past fortnight and experienced the coldest night temperature of the season with temperature plunged to minus 3.4 degree Celsius on December 5. Kashmir weather, an independent weather observer Faizan Arif told UNI that the night temperature will improve in Kashmir valley due to an approaching Western Disturbance likely to hit on December 9 and 10 that may cause snow on upper reaches and rains in the plains.
He said there would be a cloud cover over the sky which would improve the night temperature in Kashmir valley. Tourist hot spot of Pahalgam in south Kashmir remained the coldest place in the Kashmir valley on Wednesday with temperature further dipped to minus 5.6 degree Celsius which was minus 2.4 degree Celsius below normal during this period of the season for the valley of Shepherds. Ski resort of Gulmarg had a low of minus 4.0 degree Celsius, Qazigund minus 3.6 degree Celsius, Kukernag minus 1.9 degree Celsius and frontier Kashmir district of Kupwara was recorded minus 3.1 degree Celsius on Wednesday, MeT office said.