Kargil and Leh facing extreme winter as temperature hits all time low (2024)

Weather in Leh is alarming as reports suggest that this winter, temperature throughout Kashmir valley has remained at an all time low. The temperature on Monday reached below freezing point, as Kargil experiences minus 20 degree Celsius.

On Tuesday, temperatures again dropped in Jammu and Srinagar with chilly wind blowing, and Leh experiencing minus 13.8 degree Celsius.

A MET department official said, "At minus 20 degree Celsius as the minimum temperature, Kargil was the coldest town in Jammu and Kashmir followed by Leh at minus 10.9 degree Celsius. Minimum temperature recorded in Srinagar was minus 3.3, in Pahalgam minus 5.6 and minus 6.4 degree Celsius in Gulmarg.”

The weather here is likely to remain such in the next four to five days, and the temperature at night is likely to fall further in the Kashmir Valley, as well as the Ladakh region. Temperature recorded here in some regions―Katra 8.2, Batote 3.3, Banihal 1.8, Bhaderwah 0.6, and Udhampur 0.2 degree Celsius.

Those who are planning to travel to Jammu and Kashmir should be mindful of the cold wave, and keep an eye out on the temperature of the place.

At present, Kashmir is undergoing the 40 days of harshest winter known as ‘Chilai Kalan’, a period in winter when the mercury level goes below freezing point and the cold wave intensifies. Temperature during the day time also dips drastically, freezing most of the water bodies, including the Dal Lake.