Upper reaches receive fresh snowfall, rain lashes plains in Kashmir

Srinagar, Nov 13: The upper reaches, including border town of Gurez, received fresh snowfall while rain lashed plains, resulting in further dip in the day temperature in Kashmir valley, where wet weather is predicted during the next 48 hours.

However, the night temperature improved and settled several degrees above normal at majority of the places in Kashmir valley due to overcast conditions.

Meanwhile, people continued to shiver in border town of Kargil, which was the coldest place in the region at minus 6.2 degree, followed by Leh, where the mercury dipped and settled at minus 5 degree.

A Met department spokesperson told TNN that light to moderate rain or snow could occur at many places during the next 48 hours. “There will be isolated rain or snow on Thursday in Kashmir valley,” he said, adding the weather will turn dry from Friday onwards, which could result in dip in the minimum temperature.

Border town of Gurez, which is surrounded from Pakistan Occupied Kashmir (PoK) from three sides, received another spell of fresh snowfall since early this morning, resulting in further dip in the maximum temperature.

Zojila pass and some other areas on 434-km-long Srinagar-Leh highway, connecting Ladakh region with Kashmir, also received fresh intermittent snowfall since Monday evening. The traffic on the highway has been suspended to avoid accidents following slippery road conditions.

After witnessing an improvement of about a degree from Monday, people woke up to a chilly Tuesday morning due to cloudy skies and ice cold winds in the summer capital, Srinagar. But, as the day progressed, rain lashed the summer capital, resulting in further dip in the maximum temperature.

Against 2.6 degree recorded on Monday, the night temperature in Srinagar was 3.2 degree, which is 2 degree above normal. On Monday, the maximum temperature recorded in Srinagar was 3 degree below normal.

Rain lashed world famous ski resort of Gulmarg, about 55 km from here in north Kashmir, since Tuesday morning, resulting in dip in the day temperature. The ski resort was the coldest place in the valley after the mercury dipped about a degree from Monday and settle at minus 4 degree, which is about 4 degree below normal. Gulmarg was the only place in the valley which witnessed a sip in the night temperature.

The skies were cloudy in world famous health resort of Pahalgam, about 100 km from here in south Kashmir. However, the upper reaches in Pahalgam, including Chandanwari, the last motorable halting station for Amarnath cave shrine on traditional yatra route, received fresh snowfall. Amarnath cave shine and its periphery besides Sheshnag, Mahagung, Pisso top and Panjterni also received fresh snowfall.

The night temperature in Pahalgam remained constant since Monday at 1.1 degree, which is about 2 degree above normal.

The night temperature in Qazigund, gateway to the valley and Kupwara in north Kashmir also improved and settled at 5.6 degree and 1 degree, respectively.