Chillai Kalan ends with 75% rain, snow deficit in Valley

Some parts of Jammu and Kashmir witnessed mild rains in plains and snowfall over mountains on Friday as the Valley's harshest winter period—Chillai Kalan—ended, recording just 25% of the normal precipitation, the meteorological centre said.

- Ashiq Hussain

SRINAGAR:

The 40-day Chillai Kalan, which started on December 21, has behaved erratically this winter starting with bone-chilling night temperatures of -8° to -12° Celsius but ending with day temperatures of 14-15° Celsius, some 6-7° above normal. The summer capital Srinagar witnessed a cold wave for several days in the first half of Chillai Kalan, which froze waterbodies, especially Dal Lake.

There have been three mild bouts of snowfall during the period, including on December 27-28, January 4-5 and January 16. But overall, the winter has witnessed a deficit in precipitation. Officials of the meteorological centre in Srinagar said that Chillai Kalan has recorded over 3/4th of a deficit in precipitation.