Srinagar: The 40-day ‘Chillai Kalan’, considered the harshest period of winter in Kashmir, came to an end on a sunny note on Thursday but overcast conditions towards the end of the day raised hope of some precipitation after a prolonged dry spell.
Chillai Kalan, which starts on December 21, is a period when chances of snowfall are maximum and temperatures drop several degrees below freezing point.
The minimum temperature dropped to bone-chilling levels this winter as the mercury dipped to minus 8.5 degrees Celsius in Srinagar on the very first day of Chillai Kalan, breaking a 50-year-old record.
The harsh winter period was also marked by warmer-than-usual days as maximum temperatures stayed five to seven degrees above normal in the second half of January.
The harsh winter period was also marked by warmer-than-usual days as maximum temperatures stayed five to seven degrees above normal in the second half of January.
Chillai-Kalan lasts for 40 days, from December 21 to January 30 every year. After this, Kashmir enters Chillai-Khurd (20 days, January 31 to February 19) and then Chillai-Bachha (10 days, February 20 to March 2), marking a gradual decrease in cold.
