Kashmir Freezes At -18C (-0.4F)
Crippling cold continues to grip the Kashmir and Ladakh regions of India, tanking temps to anomalously low levels.
Srinagar saw -2.1C (28.2F) overnight Wednesday, Pahalgam dipped to -5.3C (22.5F), with Gulmarg seeing -3.6C (25.5F).
The Zojila Pass, a vital link between Kashmir and Ladakh, was buried under heavy snow with thermometers plunging to -18C (-0.4F), forcing its closure and halting essential supplies through the pass.
In Ladakh itself, the districts of Leh and Kargil endured temperatures below -9C (15.8F), with remote areas cut off.
Jammu also experienced the chill, with areas like Banihal, Batote, and Bhaderwah all recordeding freezing lows and heavy snows.
School closures are mounting and public transportation is being disrupted, with residents urged to stay indoors. Authorities are working hard, providing relief to those cut off, maintaining the flow essential supplies, and also increasing snow-clearing efforts.
As per local forecasts, the cold wave shows no signs of abating.
Below Average Antarctic Plateau
Temperatures across the Antarctic Plateau continue to hold exceptionally cold, even as the continent enters summer.
At the South Pole Station, the average temperature from December 1 to 4 has come in at -35.8C (-32.4F), far colder than the historical norm of -31.5C (-24.7 F).
Similarly, at the Vostok Station, conditions have been extreme, with -43.1C (-45.6F) posted on December 5.
