Srinagar: Weather across Jammu and Kashmir is likely to remain mainly dry over the coming days, with the Meteorological Centre Srinagar forecasting a possibility of light rain at isolated places and a spell of generally cloudy weather towards the end of October.
According to the latest weather bulletin issued on Friday, mainly dry conditions are expected across the Union Territory, with isolated precipitation possible in parts of Kashmir on October 16, 17 and 18. The weather is likely to remain dry on October 19 and 20, while isolated precipitation may occur again on October 21 and 22.
The forecast for the next 24 hours indicates mainly dry weather, with the possibility of light rain or thunderstorms at one or two places towards the evening. The subsequent two days are also expected to remain mainly dry.
The MeT department has forecast generally cloudy weather with light rain at scattered places between October 25 and 27, while higher reaches may receive light snowfall. Thunderstorms and gusty winds are also possible at a few places during this period.
Meanwhile, maximum temperatures remained below normal across most weather stations in both Kashmir and Jammu divisions during the past 24 hours ending at 8.30 am on Friday.
In Kashmir, maximum temperatures were 5 to 8 degrees Celsius below normal at many places. Srinagar recorded a maximum temperature of 17.4 degrees Celsius, which was 5.4 degrees below normal.
Other stations also recorded lower-than-normal daytime temperatures. Qazigund registered a maximum of 15 degrees Celsius, 6.4 degrees below normal, while Pahalgam recorded 13.4 degrees Celsius, 6.2 degrees below normal.
Kupwara recorded a maximum temperature of 14.8 degrees Celsius, 8.5 degrees below normal, while Kukernag registered 14.2 degrees Celsius, 6.2 degrees below normal.
Gulmarg recorded the lowest minimum temperature among the listed Kashmir stations at 0.5 degrees Celsius, which was 3.1 degrees below normal. The resort also recorded a maximum temperature of 6.6 degrees Celsius.
Night temperatures, however, remained around normal at many places in Kashmir, with minimum temperatures generally ranging from zero to three degrees Celsius around the seasonal average.
In Jammu division, maximum temperatures were 3 to 10 degrees Celsius below normal at many places, although some stations recorded temperatures close to or slightly above normal.
Jammu city recorded a maximum temperature of 28 degrees Celsius, 3.1 degrees below normal, while its minimum temperature settled at 15.3 degrees Celsius, 2.9 degrees below normal.
Kathua recorded the highest maximum temperature in the Jammu division at 31.4 degrees Celsius, marginally above its normal of 30.9 degrees Celsius. Bhaderwah recorded the lowest minimum temperature in the division at 3.9 degrees Celsius, 3.4 degrees below normal.
Rainfall was recorded at several locations during the past 24 hours, with Udhampur receiving the highest precipitation at 16.6 mm, according to the bulletin.
For Saturday, October 17, the MeT department has forecast partly cloudy skies in Srinagar, with the maximum and minimum temperatures expected to remain around 19 and 8 degrees Celsius, respectively.
Jammu is likely to experience mainly clear skies, with temperatures expected to be around 29 degrees Celsius during the day and 17 degrees Celsius at night.
The department has not issued any weather warning for either Kashmir or Jammu division for the seven-day forecast period covered in its October 16 bulletin.
The MeT department has advised farmers to resume harvesting and other agricultural operations from Friday onwards, in view of the expected dry conditions over the coming days.
