Kashmir Shivers Through Coldest December Night in 50 Years, Temperatures Plunge to Minus 8.5°C!

Srinagar (The Uttam Hindu): Kashmir experienced its coldest December night in 50 years, with temperatures dropping to a chilling minus 8.5 degrees Celsius. The cold wave has forced people to stay indoors, and according to the meteorological department, this was the coldest night of the season in the region in the last five decades. On Sunday morning, the cold persisted, with temperatures recorded at minus 3.2 degrees Celsius in Srinagar.

Even the surface of the Dal Lake froze due to the intense cold, which has been felt not only in Kashmir but also in regions like Delhi, Punjab, and Rajasthan. This severe cold marks the beginning of "Chillai Kalan," a 40-day period of intense winter in Kashmir. The temperature on Sunday night in Srinagar, with a low of minus 8.5 degrees Celsius, was the coldest December night since 1974, when the minimum temperature had dropped to minus 10.3 degrees Celsius. Additionally, it was the third coldest December night since 1891.

The coldest December night in Srinagar's history occurred on December 13, 1934, when temperatures plunged to minus 12.8 degrees Celsius. "Chillai Kalan" will continue until January 31, 2025. However, even after its conclusion, the valley will continue to experience a cold wave due to the subsequent "Chillai Khurd" (minor cold) for 20 days and the "Chillai Bachha" (baby cold) for 10 days, following the 40-day intense winter period.