Weather turns pleasant, rains in the offing in Kashmir

Srinagar, Jun 22: Weather turned pleasant today after recording a considerable drop in the mercury yesterday due to rain and cloudy sky in Kashmir valley, where more wet weather is predicted during the next 72 hours. The maximum temperature was 6-14 degree below normal in the valley yesterday, while the minimum temperature will be two to three degree below normal today. The minimum temperature at Pahalgam, base camp of annual Amarnath pilgrimage, starting from June 29, was two notches above normal, though the maximum temperature was 11 notches below normal yesterday.

A Met department Spokesman told UNI here this afternoon that scattered rain could occur today, while there was a forecast for isolated rains during the next 48 hours in the valley. After rains during the past 24 hours, due to which mercury witnessed a dip resulting in chill, weather turned pleasant today after Sun appeared from behind the clouds, much to the delight of Eid-ul-Fitr shoppers, who are out in the market to make purchases. Vendors have put up roadside stalls at different places in this summer capital and main towns across the valley. In Srinagar, the maximum temperature recorded considerable drop due to rain and cloudy sky and settled at 17.8 degree, eleven notches below normal.

The minimum temperature was 13.5 degree, three degree below normal, Met spokesman told UNI adding that there was 10.9 mm rainfall during the last 24 hours in the city. He said the sky would be partly cloudy and the maximum and minimum temperatures would be around 26 degree Celsius and 13 degrees respectively in the city during the next 24 hours. He said due to rain, the maximum temperature at Kupwara fell and settled at 14 degree below normal, followed by below 12 notches at Qazigund. The maximum temperature at Pahalgam was 11 degrees below normal, while the mercury settled at 6 degrees below normal at Gulmarg.

The minimum temperature at these places was one to three degrees below normal today. Leh and Kargil in Ladakh region were however, more warm then Kashmir valley as the maximum temperature there was 22.9 degree and 24.8 degree respectively yesterday, he said.

The sky would be mainly clear and the maximum and minimum temperatures would be around 23 degrees and 12 degrees, respectively during the next 24 hours in Leh. At Jammu, the sky would be partly cloudy and the maximum and minimum temperatures would be around 35 degrees and 22 degrees, respectively during the next 24 hours.