SRINAGAR: The minimum temperature in Jammu city dropped to a minus 5.1ºC on Sunday thereby recording the season’s lowest temperature as a severe cold wave has lashed Jammu and Kashmir.

“The minimum temperature in Jammu city was 5.1ºC on Sunday and Saturday. This is the lowest recorded in the city this season so far,” a MET department official said.

The cold wave conditions are likely to continue in the state during the next 48 hours and the night temperatures are likely to drop further due to clear night sky.

“The minimum temperature was minus 3.7ºC in Srinagar while it was minus 9.2 in Pahalgam and minus 7.5 in Gulmarg.

“Kargil was the coldest town in the state on Sunday as the minimum dropped to a minus 13.4ºC which was followed by Leh where it dropped to minus 12.2ºC.

“The minimum temperatures in Katra town was 7.2, in Batote 4.2, Bannihal 1.7, Bhaderwah minus 0.2 and in Udhampur it was 3.1ºC,” the official added.

With dry and cold northwesterly winds blowing, the mercury may fall by a degree for the next three days, with the minimum temperature around Delhi likely to hover around 7 degrees, the weatherman said on Saturday.

According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), the minimum temperature may fall only by a degree, and from Tuesday onwards temperature would rise.

On Saturday, the minimum temperature settled at 7.6ºC, a notch below the season’s average, while the maximum temperature stayed at 20.8, three notches below the season’s average.

According to the IMD, Sunday may see a slight dip in the minimum temperature to hover around 7 degrees.

“Had the winds been northerly, the temperature would have fallen by at least two to three degrees, because of the snowfall in the northern region. However, the high speed north-westerly winds will also pull mercury slightly down,” Charan Singh, weather forecast chief at IMD, said.

“Temperature may drop by a degree tomorrow (Sunday), may rise by a degree the day after, but will remain around seven degrees for next three days,” Singh added.

From Tuesday onwards, due to a cloudy sky, the maximum and minimum temperatures are likely to increase by around two to three degrees.

Friday’s maximum temperature was 7.3ºC, a notch below the season’s average, and minimum temperature was recorded at 19.5ºC, four notches below the season’s average.

Currently the National Capital Region (NCR) is witnessing a wind speed of 10 to 15 kmph, due to which the temperature had fallen and despite 96 per cent maximum humidity, the air quality has improved from the verge of “very poor” to almost “moderate.”

Indo-Asian News Service