Kamal Ghorui
The high-altitude town of Dras is currently experiencing harsher conditions than parts of Siberia. Current weather data indicates that Dras is experiencing cold weather with snowfall throughout the day, with daytime highs of about 1°C and nighttime lows of -5°C. The amount of snowfall is expected to be between 5 and 10 cm throughout the day, and another 10 to 15 cm overnight, thus intensifying the cold spell. On the other hand, Siberia has been relatively milder in terms of temperature, with temperatures reaching as high as 12 degrees Celsius during the day and dropping as low as 4 degrees Celsius at night, in addition to rain and snowfall earlier in the day. This temporary reversal has made Dras colder than Siberia—at least for now.
Canva
Dras is located in a small valley with an altitude of over 3,200 meters, and such valleys are known to retain cold air, especially on winter nights. The location of Dras, the clear sky, and the dry conditions cause heat loss to occur rapidly after sunset, leading to a sudden fall in temperature. Even while the temperatures are not very low, the dry conditions in Ladakh make the cold feel even more severe than in coastal areas. Read more: Norwegian Ambassador praises Delhi Metro after first ride, calls it ‘fast, clean and efficient’
Why Dras is colder right now
The extreme chilling effect in Dras is due to the high altitude, the geographical position of the area, and the clear atmosphere. It is located in the valley of Ladakh; therefore, the area experiences the trapping of cold air, especially when there is snowfall. The fresh snow cover makes the cold even worse by reflecting the heat away, while the dry air of the mountain enables the temperature to drop quickly after sunset. Though the winters of Siberia are known worldwide for their extreme cold, the region is vast, with temperatures that fluctuate.
Canva
On certain days, when certain parts of the vast region of Siberia are relatively ‘warmer’ than their usual temperatures, places like Dras may even register lower temperatures. Though the winters of Siberia are synonymous with extreme cold, the region is vast, with temperatures that fluctuate. On certain days, when certain parts of the vast region of Siberia are relatively ‘warmer’ than their usual temperatures, places like Dras may even register lower temperatures. This is usually a short-lived instance, not a long-run trend. Even though Siberia retains the records of the lowest temperatures ever recorded on the surface of the Earth, Dras often competes in day-to-day extremes during peak winters. This does not mean that Dras is always colder than Siberia; however, this shows that local weather conditions sometimes beat even the coldest places in the world.Read more: “People talk about civic sense”: Viral video shows littered train coach; class 10 students on Manali trip reportedly responsible, sparks debate
Life under snow
As the snow continues to fall and the nights remain below freezing, daily life in Dras gets even more difficult. However, the people of Dras are no strangers to these harsh weather conditions and have learned to adjust their daily routines to suit the harshest climate in India.The recent weather again puts the town of Dras in the spotlight, proving that the town in the Himalayas can, for once, be colder than Siberia itself.
