Severe cold wave continues to unleash in the Kashmir Valley even as night temperature witnessed a slight rise at a few weather stations on Monday, officials said.The cold wave is likely to continue in the Kashmir Valley, the Meteorological Centre in Srinagar said.It said the weather will generally remain cloudy with dry weather till December 26.A feeble Western Disturbance (WD) is likely to hit and can cause light rain over the plains of Jammu and light snow over higher reaches of the Chenab Valley and Pir Panjal Range towards December 27 late afternoon to December 18 forenoon.

The weather will remain dry hereafter till December 30, and another spell of light snow is expected at a few higher reaches in the Kashmir Valley at the end of the year, the Met office said.It said a slight rise in minimum temperature by 1-2°C is expected during the next 24 hours, and thereafter again a fall of 2-3°C is expected till December 26.There was a slight improvement by a degree in the minimum temperature in Srinagar against the minus 4.6°C on Sunday. This was 1.2°C below the average during this period of the season for the summer capital of Jammu and Kashmir.

Pahalgam again became the coldest place in the valley after the night temperature slipped by a notch on Monday against the minus 4.9°C recorded a day ago. However, this was 0.2°C above normal for the tourist area of south Kashmir’s Anantnag district during the period.

The minimum temperature at Qazigund, the gateway town of Kashmir, also witnessed a further drop by a few notches on Monday and settled at minus 4.8°C against the minus 5.2°C on the previous night, and this was 2.4°C below average for the place.Kokernag plummeted further by a few notches and settled at minus 4.0°C against the minus 3.7°C a day ago, and this was 1.8°C below average for the place in south Kashmir.

The ski resort of Gulmarg in north Kashmir’s Baramulla district dipped by a few notches and recorded at minus 4.8°C on Monday against the minus 4.6°C on Sunday, and it was still 1.4°C above normal for the valley of meadows during this period.Kashmir’s frontier district of Kupwara settled at minus 4.2°C for the second consecutive day on Monday, and this was 1.2°C below normal for the border town during this period of season, the Met office. (UNI)