Srinagar: Parts of the world famous Dal Lake were again frozen partially as night temperature witnessed further drop in the Kashmir valley, where world famous health resort of Pahalgam and summer capital, Srinagar, recorded coldest night of the winter so far.
Weather woes continued in Ladakh region, where Leh also recorded coldest night after the mercury dropped further and settled at minus 13.2 degree.
However, sun was out again today though the intensity of the heat was very low and cold winds also continued.
A Met department spokesman said here this afternoon that weather will remain dry in the Jammu and Kashmir during the next 24 hours. However, there is possibility of isolated rain in the Kashmir valley during the subsequent 72 hours.
Srinagar, where business and other activities remained affected due to strike, mercury witnessed further dip and settled at minus 4.5 degree, 3.5 degree below normal. Similar temperature was also recorded on December 10, 2016.
Parts of the Dal Lake, particularly near banks and interior of the water body, were again frozen early this morning. However, the frozen parts started melting as the day progressed.
The famed water body was frozen completely in 1965 when a jeep was driven on the frozen surface one end to end. Similarly Lake was again frozen in 1987 and authorities had to deploy police personnel on the bank to avoid any accident. However, tourists and locals were walking on the frozen surface and taking photographers while young people were playing cricket and hockey.
Met spokesman said the sky would be mainly clear and the maximum and minimum temperatures would be around 10 degree and minus 4 degree respectively in Srinagar during the next 24 hours.
Water bodies at Pahalgam, a famed health resort about 100 km from here in south Kashmir, were frozen due to further drop in the mercury. Against yesterdays minus 6.2 degree minimum temperature, it was minus 7.3 degree, coldest of the winter so far. Earlier lowest was minus 6.2 recorded yesterday.
Gulmarg, world famous ski resort in north Kashmir however, witnessed a minor surge in the minimum temperature. Against yesterday minus 4.8 degree, it was minus 4.4 degree, half a notch below normal.
Qazigund and Kokernag in south Kashmir recorded minus 2.2 degree and minus 3.3 degree minimum temperature respectively while at Kupwara in north it was minus 4.7 degree, about three degree below normal.
He said Leh recorded coldest night of the season after the mercury witnessed further drop and settled at minus 13.6 degree against yesterdays minus 13.2 degree. The sky would be mainly clear the maximum and minimum temperature would be around 7 degree and minus 13 degree respectively at Leh during the next 24 hours.