New Delhi: With temperatures remaining above normal since November, this winter could well be the warmest ever recorded not only in North India, but across the country.
India Meteorological Department (IMD) Director General Laxman Singh Rathore said January too saw above normal temperatures and the trend is likely to continue in February.
Meteorologists have attributed a warmer winter to El-Nino. The phenomenon is associated with warming of waters of the Pacific Ocean. El-Nino also had an adverse effect on the Southwest Monsoon, which was “deficient” for the second consecutive year.
“Weather stations across the country have recorded above normal temperatures this winter. January was definitely the warmest not only in North India, but also across the country as per the temperatures recorded in different weather stations. The phenomenon will also continue in February.
“Also, duration of day will increase gradually and this will lead to rise in radiation, which will affect the temperature level,” Rathore said. However, final conclusion can only be drawn by the end of the season.
The last week of December and January are considered as the coldest times when the winter reaches its peak. Incidentally, 2015 was the hottest year on record.
Cold conditions intensify in Kashmir
Cold wave tightened its grip over Kashmir as the mercury plunged across the Valley and settled below the freezing point at most places, even as the weatherman predicted further drop in the minimum temperature.
Srinagar, the summer capital of Jammu and Kashmir, recorded a low of minus 1.7 degrees Celsius, down by nearly two notches from previous night's zero degrees Celsius, an official of the Meteorological department said here.
The famous ski-resort of Gulmarg in north Kashmir was the coldest recorded place in the Valley with a low of minus 8 degrees Celsius against the previous night's minus 7.2 degrees Celsius, the official said.
He said Pahalgam hill resort in south, which serves as the base camp for the annual Amarnath yatra during summer, recorded a low of minus 5.5 degrees Celsius.
The night temperature in Qazigund, the gateway town to Kashmir Valley, dropped from 1.6 degrees Celsius to settle at a low of 0.6 degrees Celsius, the official said.
The north Kashmir town of Kupwara recorded a low of minus 1.6 degree Celsius, the official said, adding Kokernag, in south, registered a low of 0.1 degrees Celsius.
