Cold in capital eases, Kashmir freezes

NEW DELHI: Delhiites continued to enjoy pleasant weather on Tuesday even as the mercury took a further dip in the Kashmir valley.

While the national capital recorded 9.3 degrees Celsius, Srinagar plummeted to minus 2.3 on Monday night.

Tuesday’s minimum in Delhi was 0.5 degrees less than Monday’s 9.8, the met office said. Delhi had recorded a maximum of 27 degrees on Monday, three notches above normal.

“The winter is nearing its end and there will be no major temperature fluctuations in the next few days,” met director BP Yadav said. The National Centre for Medium Range Weather Forecasting said the minimum temperature would drop by a couple of degrees in the next 48 hours. It will, however, begin to increase from February 21, it said. The minimum temperatures on Wednesday and Thursday are likely to be around 10 degrees, while the maximum would be around 26.

For Friday, the minimum and maximum are predicted to be 11 and 27 degrees, while Saturday may be warmer with a minimum of 12 degrees and a maximum of 28.

Cold is, however, not likely to ease in Kashmir. Pahalgam and Kokernag in south Kashmir recorded lows of minus 4.8 and minus 2 degrees Celsius on Monday night.

While Kupwara in north Kashmir registered a low of minus 3, Bhaderwah recorded minus 1, the met department said.