Srinagar, 18-Dec : Cold conditions intensified in J&K and Ladakh as Srinagar experienced the coldest night of the season so far at minus 6.0°C resulting in freezing of water supply lines as well as the fringes of several water bodies, officials said on Saturday.A meteorological department official here said that the mercury in the summer capital was down from previous night’s minus 3.8°C by minus 2.2°C and overall it was below minus 4.5°C than the normal for this time of the year.Barring last year, it is for the first time in last decade that mercury has plunged to minus 6.0°C or more before the onset of the Chillai-e-Kalan, the 40-day long chilliest part of the season, starting on December 21. In last ten years, it has been four occasions when the mercury fell to minus 6.0°C or above in Srinagar.On 19 December 2020, the mercury had plummeted to minus 6.6°C while as lowest in month of December was recorded on 30th day in 2019 at 6.6°C. In last ten years, the lowest was recorded 25 December 2017 when mercury plunged to minus 7.7°C. The lowest ever temperature in December was recorded on 13th of 1934 when mercury fell to minus 12.8°C.The coldwave conditions led to freezing of water supply lines in many areas of the valley as well as the fringes of several water bodies, they said.The weatherman has forecast colder nights over the next couple of days as further fall in the minimum temperature is expected.There is also a possibility of a white Christmas as widespread moderate to heavy snowfall is most likely to occur from December 23-25.(CNS)
