Rain, snow likely in Jammu, Valley from tomorrow

SRINAGAR: Jammu and Kashmir is likely to witness another spell of rains or snow as a fresh Western Disturbance (WD) is likely to affect the region from February 20 (Tuesday), Meteorological Department predicted on Sunday. "A fresh Western Disturbance is likely to affect Western Himalayan region from 20th February onwards and is likely to cause isolated to scattered rainfall or snowfall activity over Jammu and Kashmir and Himachal Pradesh," IMD said in its weather forecast. On February 11, Kashmir valley along with other parts of the state received major snowfall after a long dry spell. The snowfall triggered landslides on 300-km long Srinagar-Jammu highway which was subsequently re-opened for traffic after four days of closure for any vehicular movement. However, in early December last year valley witnessed a little snowfall but the harshest 40 days commonly known as Chilla-i-Kalan remained devoid of any big rainfall or snow in Kashmir. The IMD's weather report also said that another fresh WD is likely to cause scattered to fairly widespread precipitation over Western Himalayas region and isolated to scattered rainfall over adjoining plains from February 23 onwards.