Weather Update in Jammu Kashmir till January 5

Srinagar, Dec 31 (GNS): Cold wave conditions continued as the minimum temperature settled far below freezing point at most places in Kashmir on Sunday.

A meteorological department official here told GNS that Srinagar recorded a low of minus 3.4°C against minus 2.8°C on the previous night and it was 1.3°C below normal for the summer capital of J&K for this time of the year. There was however no fog in Srinagar or other parts this morning.

Qazigund recorded a minimum of minus 2.6°C against minus 2.0°C on the previous night, he said. The minimum temperature was 0.3°C below normal for the gateway town of Kashmir, the MeT official said.

Pahalgam recorded a low of minus 3.4°C against minus 4.1°C on the previous night and it was 1.8°C above normal for the famous resort in south Kashmir.

Kokernag, also in south Kashmir, recorded a minimum of minus 1.4°C against minus 1.3°C on the previous night and the temperature was above normal by 1.3°C for the place, the official said.

Kupwara town in north Kashmir recorded a low of minus 3.8°C against minus 2.3°C on the previous night and it was 1.3°C below normal there, the official said.

Gulmarg, the official said, recorded a low of minus 3.5°C against minus 2.5°C on the previous night and the temperature was 2.7°C above normal for the world famous skiing resort in north Kashmir.

Jammu, he said, recorded a minimum of 8.3°C against 7.7°C on previous night, and it was above normal by 0.9°C for the winter capital of J&K.

Banihal recorded a low of minus 0.5°C, Batote 4.0°C and Bhaderwah 1.4°C, he said.

Kashmir valley is under ‘Chillai-Kalan’, the 40-day harsh period of winter, which will end on January 30. However it does not mean an end to the winter. It is followed by a 20-day-long period called ‘Chillai-Khurd’ that occurs between January 30 and February 19 and a 10-day-long period ‘Chillai-Bachha’ (baby cold) which is from February 20 to March 1.

Weatherman has predicted the possibility of light snow over higher reaches during the evening/night of December 31.

He said from January 1-3, the weather is expected to be dry.” From January 4-5, he said, generally cloudy and dry weather is expected. “Overall no significant weather activity is expected till January 5.” (GNS)

Minimum Temperatures Recorded Today

Kashmir Region:

Srinagar = -3.4°C
Qazigund = -2.6°C
Pahalgam = -3.4°C
Kupwara = -3.8°C
Kokernag = -1.4°C
Gulmarg = -3.5°C
Anantnag = -3.2°C
Ganderbal = -3.4°C
Pulwama = -4.0°C
Bandipora = -4.6°C
Baramulla = -3.6°C
Budgam = -3.9°C
Kulgam = -2.3°C
Shopian = -5.4°C

Jammu Region:

Jammu = 8.3°C
Banihal = 0.0°C
Batote = 4.0°C
Katra = 8.6°C
Bhaderwah = 1.4°C
Kathua = 10.3°C
Ramban = 3.7°C
Reasi = 6.5°C
Samba = 8.4°C
Udhampur = 5.5°C

Ladakh:

Leh = -8.2°C
Kargil = -6.0°C
Drass = -7.6°C

Compiled By: Kashmir Weather

With 5 more varieties, 1.7 million bulbs to bloom at Tulip garden in upcoming season

100 employees including gardeners employed this year, expecting footfall to increase further, says Incharge Javaid Masood

Srinagar, Dec 30 (KNO): With five more varieties in upcoming season, the Asia’s largest, Indira Gandhi Memorial Tulip GardenTulip garden, located in the between Dal Lake and the Zabarwan hills is set to witness a blooming of 1.7 million tulip bulbs for the first time.

Officials while divulging the details with the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) said that compared to 68 varieties in previous year, they have decided to increase the number of varieties to 73 in this season.

Javaid Masood, In-Charge Tulip Garden said that nearly one lakh more bulbs than the previous year will bloom at the Tulip garden in the upcoming season for which the work ground has been already done.

“This year, the work period got extended till mid December unlike previous years as a consignment from Holland got delayed,” he said, adding that in the upcoming season, the Tulip Garden that was recently included in World Book of Records will be in full bloom with 1.7 million tulip bulbs.

He said nearly 100 employees including staff as well as the gardeners were employed for the beautification of the garden, adding that the work has been completed.

“As the increasing flow of tourists was recorded last year at the garden, we are expecting the number to go further up in the upcoming season,” he said, adding that the opening of Tulip garden commences the new tourist season in Jammu & Kashmir. “The number of tourists visiting J&K in the spring season was low in the past, but since the Tulip garden has come up in Srinagar, the flow has been increasing with every passing year and this year too, we are expecting the footfall to increase further,” he said.

Pertinently, the garden was opened in 2007 with the aim of boosting floriculture and tourism in the Kashmir Valley. It is built on sloping ground in a terraced fashion, consisting of seven terraces. The Indira Gandhi Memorial Tulip garden is spread over 30 hectares—(KNO)