Kargil, Dec 27: Drass in Ladakh recorded a minimum temperature of approximately minus 18.1 degrees Celsius, marking one of the coldest nights of the season.
Temperatures in Drass frequently plunge lower during peak winter, sometimes reaching as low as minus 30 degrees Celsius or even lower during December and January.
As per the Meteorological Department’s Ladakh Centre, Drass recorded minus 18.1 degrees Celsius, while neighbouring Leh recorded minus 9.9 degrees Celsius, Kargil minus 9.2 degrees Celsius, Nubra Valley minus 8.8 degrees Celsius, Padum minus 14.5 degrees Celsius, and Nyoma minus 15.3 degrees Celsius.
According to the MeT forecast, the region is likely to witness partly cloudy conditions, followed by mostly cloudy skies on December 28.
“December 29 is expected to remain partly cloudy, while December 30 may see cloudy weather for most of the day. During the night of December 30, there is a 55 to 60 percent chance of light snowfall over the Zojila Pass-Drass axis and parts of the Siachen Glacier area,” it said. “The weather system is expected to intensify between December 31 and January 1, bringing cold and cloudy conditions across the region.”
According to the MeT forecast, light to moderate snowfall is likely at scattered locations over Zojila, Kargil, and the Zanskar region, as well as higher reaches of Leh district.
“A Western Disturbance will affect Ladakh during December 31-January 1. It will cause cloudiness throughout Ladakh with light to moderate snowfall at scattered places of Kargil, Zanskar, and Siachen regions,” the MeT Centre Ladakh said.
Meteorological officials have warned of the possibility of heavy snowfall, with accumulation of up to 10 inches, particularly along the Zojila-Minamarg axis.
The MeT cautioned that transportation over Zojila may face temporary disruptions on December 31 and January 1 due to snowfall and adverse road conditions.
The advisory urges travellers, transporters, and locals to remain updated with the latest weather bulletins and plan their movements accordingly to avoid inconvenience and ensure safety during the expected spell of harsh winter weather.