Srinagar, Jan 25 (UNI) The chilly weather conditions have intensified as the mercury dipped and settled several degrees below normal at most places in Kashmir valley due to open skies, coupled with ice-cold winds following fresh snowfall over the weekend.

However, there was some respite from chill during the day as bright sunshine greeted people though ice cold winds continued in the summer capital, Srinagar, and other parts of Kashmir valley.

A Met department spokesperson told UNI that the weather will remain dry till January 30 in the valley. “Open skies during the night could result in further dip in the mercury though day temperature is expected to improve,” he said.

He said a fresh Western Disturbance (WD), which originated from the Arabian Sea and is approaching the region though Afghanistan and Pakistan, will hit the region on January 31. “Under the influence of this WD, snow could occur at some places in Kashmir,” he added.

Even though there was marginal improvement in the night temperature, world famous health resort of Pahalgam was the coldest place in the valley. Against minus 12 degree recorded on Sunday, the night temperature at the health resort settled at minus 11.9 degree, which is over 4 degree below normal.

After witnessing a dip of about 3 degree from Sunday, people in the summer capital woke up to a chilly and foggy Monday morning. However, as the day progressed, sun came out late in the morning, resulting in improvement in the temperature though ice cold winds continued. The mercury at Srinagar dipped and settled at minus 5.2 degree, which is 3 degree below normal. World-famous Dal Lake and other water-bodies remained partly frozen in Srinagar, where authorities have warned people, particularly youth and children, not to walk on the frozen water. Drivers and mechanics could be seen burning wood on roadsides early in the morning to keep themselves warm.

The night temperature at the world-famous ski resort of Gulmarg dipped about half-a-degree from Sunday and settled at minus 11.5 degree, which is about 4 degree below normal. Meanwhile, the resort, which is known for its ski slopes and quality of snow, is abuzz with local, national and international tourists. “All the hotels in the resort are booked and people associated with tourism are very happy as they are doing brisk business after suffering huge losses in 2019 and 2020,” a hotelier from Gulmarg told UNI over the phone.

He said the tourist influx started to pickup since Christmas even as the ski resort received early snowfall. “All the ski slopes have been thrown open for tourists and other adventure sports lovers,” he said, adding all the hotels are booked till March.

The mercury at Qazigund, gateway to the valley, Kupwara in north Kashmir and tourist resort of Kukernag settled at minus 5.5 degrees, 3.1 degree and minus 8.4 degree, respectively.

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