Fresh snowfall in Upper reaches, rain lashes plains in Kashmir

Srinagar, Mar 1: The upper reaches, including world famous ski resort of Gulmarg and health resort of Sonamarg, received fresh snowfall while rain lashes plains in Kashmir, including summer capital, Srinagar, where educational institutions reopened after more than two months winter vacation. During night, the mercury remained above freezing point at majority of the places in the valley while day became chilly due to drop in the maximum temperature.


A Met department spokesperson told UNI this afternoon that light to moderate rain or snow could occur during the next 48 hours in Kashmir valley under the influence of a fresh Western Disturbance (WD), which is active in the region. Even though there was some improvement in the night temperature at the border town Kargil, still it was the coldest place in the region at minus 4.7 degree, against minus 5.2 degree recorded yesterday. Leh also witnessed an improvement of about four degree from yesterday against settled at minus 4.5 degree due to overcast conditions.

He said light snow would occur during the next 24 hours in Leh, where maximum and minimum temperatures would be around 2 degree and minus 2 degree respectively. Gulmarg, where ski slopes are already under more than four feet of snow, received fresh snowfall since last night. There were few inches of fresh snowfall. The night temperature at the ski resort witnessed an improvement of about three degree from yesterday due to cloudy skies and settled at minus 2.8 degree, which is about two notches above normal. “It is snowing intermittently since late last night. The night temperature improved due to cloudy skies, but the chill during the day has intensified.

From last about a week, Gulmarg experienced pleasant weather during the day due to bright sunshine. But nevertheless, the tourists are enjoying fresh snowfall,” a hotelier told UNI over the phone. The night temperature at world famous health resort of Pahalgam, which received fresh rain, dipped slightly though it was still three degree above normal. Against minus 0.2 degree recorded yesterday, the night temperature was minus 0.4 degree.