MeT predicts snowfall in Kashmir
Amid forecast of “widespread snowfall”, the minimum temperature on Tuesday recorded a drop in Jammu and Kashmir barring twin capitals and Qazigund, officials said.
A meteorological department official said that Srinagar recorded a low of minus 2.3°C against last night’s minus 3.4°C. Today’s minimum temperature, he said, is normal for the summer capital.
Qazigund, he said, recorded a low of minus 0.6°C against 1.0°C on the previous night and it was 3.3°C above normal for the gateway town of Kashmir.
Pahalgam, he said, recorded a low of minus 8.8°C against minus 4.7°C on the previous night and it was 1.1°C below normal for the famous tourist resort in south Kashmir’s Anantnag district.
Kokernag recorded a low of minus 3.5°C against minus 2.7°C on the previous night and it was 0.1°C above normal for the place, the officials said.
Gulmarg recorded a low of minus 9.6°C against minus 9.6°C on the previous night and it was 1.3°C below normal for the world famous skiing resort in north Kashmir’s Baramulla district, he said.
In Kupwara town, he said, the mercury settled at minus 3.4°C against minus 2.9°C on the previous night and it was normal for the north Kashmir area.
Jammu recorded a low of 8.5°C against 6.5°C on the previous night. It was 1.5°C above normal for J&K’s winter capital, he said.
Banihal recorded a low of 0.3°C (above normal by 0.6°C), Batote 1.5°C (above normal by 0.1°C), Katra 7.2°C (1.2°C above normal) and Bhadarwah 0.8°C (2.1°C above normal).
Ladakh’s Leh and Kargil recorded a low of minus 10.2°C and minus 16.8°C respectively, the official said.
Kashmir is under the grip of Chillai-Kalan, the 40-day long harsh winter period that started on December 21. It does not mean an end to the winter either. It is followed by a 20-day-long period called ‘Chillai-Khurd’ that occurs between January 30 and February 19 and a 10-day-long period ‘Chillai-Bachha’ (baby cold) which is from February 20 to March 1.
The MeT department has forecast “widespread moderate snow/(rain in Jammu) & moderate to heavy snow over middle and higher reaches of J&K” from today evening to January 25. “On January 26-28th, weather is expected to be partly to generally cloudy with light snow or rain at isolated places.”
From January 29-30th, the MeT department has forecast widespread moderate to heavy rain and snow.
He said that in the last 24 hours till 8:30 am Pahalgam and Gulmarg received 0.5cm and 0.8cm of snowfall respectively. Reports said that snowfall was also received from some upper reaches in the Valley. (GNS)
