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North India is witnessing an intense drop in temperatures as winter tightens its grip. Kashmir has plunged to sub-zero conditions, with several locations recording temperatures as low as –5°C. Punjab, Haryana and parts of Bengal are also experiencing a sharp fall in mercury levels.
Kashmir Freezes at –5°C While Torrential Rains Hammer South India
New Delhi: Winter has begun to take hold in North India. A sudden drop in temperatures following rain has increased the chill from Kashmir to Punjab and Haryana. Minimum temperatures have dropped below zero in many places in the Kashmir Valley, making nights extremely cold. Meanwhile, a low pressure area in the Bay of Bengal has caused heavy rains in many parts of South India, disrupting normal life.
Srinagar, the summer capital of Jammu and Kashmir, recorded its coldest night of the season, with temperatures dropping to minus 3.2 degrees Celsius. Shopian was the coldest area in the valley, with temperatures dropping to minus 5.1 degrees Celsius. Pulwama recorded minus 5 degrees Celsius, and Anantnag minus 4 degrees Celsius. The famous tourist destination of Gulmarg also experienced a chill, with temperatures reaching minus 1.9 degrees Celsius. Meanwhile, the Zojila Pass, which connects Kashmir with Ladakh, plummeted to minus 16 degrees Celsius, raising fears of traffic disruptions.
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The effects of cold are clearly visible in the plains of North India as well. Faridkot, Punjab, recorded a minimum temperature of 4.4 degrees Celsius on Monday, the lowest in the state. Faridkot remained the coldest place on Sunday as well. In Haryana, Narnaul remained the coldest place with a temperature of 7.8 degrees Celsius. Chandigarh, the joint capital of the two states, recorded a temperature of 6.4 degrees Celsius, while Bathinda also experienced similar conditions. Morning and late evening fog has affected visibility.
The Meteorological Department has predicted a drop of two degrees Celsius in the minimum temperature in West Bengal over the next two days. A slight increase is expected thereafter, but for now, the cold is clearly evident. Darjeeling was the coldest district in the state, recording a temperature of 5.8 degrees Celsius. The weather is expected to remain dry in the state for the next seven days, which could lead to colder nights.
Delhi-NCR Weather Update for November 18, 2025: Sunny Mornings, Temp Drops to 9°C
Heavy rains have worsened the situation in many parts of South India after a low-pressure area in the Bay of Bengal intensified into a depression. Schools and colleges were closed in Puducherry and Karaikal on Monday due to heavy rains. Heavy rains are also expected in coastal districts of Tamil Nadu, and the Meteorological Department has issued orange and yellow alerts for several areas. Strong winds and lightning are also expected in some districts. Heavy rains continue amid a yellow alert in seven districts of Kerala, leading to waterlogging in many low-lying areas.
North and South India are simultaneously experiencing different weather conditions—increasing winter temperatures in some areas and heavy rain in others. The Meteorological Department has urged people to remain vigilant and take necessary precautions.
