Cold Wave Deepens Across J&K, Zojila Drops to -16°C as Valley Freezes

Srinagar, Nov 27: A renewed wave of intense cold swept across Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh on Wednesday night, with most parts of the Kashmir Valley experiencing a sharp plunge in minimum temperatures, according to data from Kashmir Weather.

In Kashmir, nearly all major stations recorded sub-zero nights. Srinagar dropped to –4.4°C, while Shopian remained among the coldest at –6.5°C. Pulwama and Baramulla followed at –5.8°C, Pampore at –5.5°C and Anantnag at –5.7°C. Srinagar Airport touched –5.2°C, and Pahalgam settled at –5.0°C.

Other key readings included Budgam (–4.6°C), Bandipora (–4.5°C), Awantipora (–4.0°C), Sonamarg (–4.0°C), Ganderbal (–3.3°C), Qazigund (–4.0°C), and Kokernag (–1.6°C). Gulmarg stayed comparatively higher at –1.0°C, while Kulgam recorded –2.4°C. Zethan Rafiabad also dipped to –5.2°C.

The harshest conditions persisted at Zojila Pass, which again remained the coldest spot at an extreme –16.0°C.

In Jammu division, plains continued to remain above the freezing mark—Jammu recorded 8.7°C, Katra 8.5°C, Kathua 8.2°C, and Jammu Airport 10.1°C. Higher reaches were significantly colder: Banihal (–1.5°C), Bhaderwah (0.4°C), Batote (4.0°C), Ramban (4.1°C), Rajouri (2.0°C), Kishtwar (3.4°C), Reasi (6.9°C), Samba (6.9°C), and Udhampur (4.6°C).

In Ladakh, the deep freeze sustained its hold with Leh at –8.6°C, Kargil –9.5°C, and Nubra –7.7°C.