Srinagar, Jan 20 : Kashmir Valley and parts of Jammu received snowfall even as the minimum temperature recorded an increase on Friday, officials said. The weather department has also forecast rain and snowfall in J&K during the next few days.
A meteorological department official here told GNS in last 24 hours, Srinagar received 0.5 cm of snowfall, Qazigund 11 cm, Pahalgam 8.7 cm, Kokernag 16 cm, Kupwara 2.5 cm, Gulmarg 10 cm, Banihal 2.5 cm and Batote 2 cm. He said Jammu had 1.2mm of rain, Katra 1.0mm, Bhaderwah 7.8mm and Kathua 3.8mm of rainfall during the time.
Regarding temperature, he said, Srinagar recorded a low of minus 0.1ยฐC against last nightโs minus 1.4ยฐC. Todayโs minimum temperature, he said, was 2.0ยฐC above normal for the summer capital, he said.
Qazigund, he said, recorded a low of minus 0.6ยฐC against minus 3.4ยฐC on the previous night and it was 2.7ยฐC above normal for the gateway town of Kashmir.
Pahalgam, he said, recorded a low of minus 2.9ยฐC against minus 4.3ยฐC on the previous night and it was 4.3ยฐC above normal for the famous tourist resort in south Kashmirโs Anantnag district.
Kokernag recorded a low of minus 1.4ยฐC against minus 4.3ยฐC on the previous night and it was 2.5ยฐC above normal for the place, the officials said.
Gulmarg recorded a low of minus 7.6ยฐC, same as on the previous night and it was 0.1ยฐC above normal for the world famous skiing resort in north Kashmirโs Baramulla district, he said.
In Kupwara town, he said, the mercury settled at minus 1.5ยฐC against minus 2.4ยฐC on the previous night and it was 1.6ยฐC above normal in the north Kashmir area.
Jammu recorded a low of 8.7ยฐC against 7.9ยฐC on the previous night. It was 1.6ยฐC above normal for J&Kโs winter capital, he said.
Banihal recorded a low of 0.2ยฐC (above normal by 0.4ยฐC), Batote minus 1.2ยฐC (below normal by 3.0ยฐC), Katra 7.2ยฐC (1.0ยฐC above normal) and Bhadarwah 1.6ยฐC (2.5ยฐC above normal).
Ladakhโs Leh and Kargil recorded a low of minus 14.2ยฐC and minus 13.8ยฐC respectively, the official said.
The MeT department here has predicted wet weather to continue and said that widespread moderate to heavy snow over middle and higher reaches was expected from January 23-25.
Till January 22, he said, generally cloudy weather with chances of light to moderate snow and rain is expected over scattered to fairly widespread places.
โFrom January 23-25, there is possibility of widespread moderate snow (rain in Jammu) in plains and heavy snow over middle and higher reaches (60% chance),โ he said, adding, โon January 26, there are chances of rain in Jammu region and Cloudy in Kashmir( 60% chance).โ
The MeT official also urged people living in snowbound areas to remain alert and cautious while venturing in the places which are vulnerable to snow avalanches.
Kashmir is under the grip of Chillai-Kalan, the 40-day long harsh winter period that started on December 21. It does not mean an end to the winter either. It is followed by a 20-day-long period called โChillai-Khurdโ that occurs between January 30 and February 19 and a 10-day-long period โChillai-Bachhaโ (baby cold) which is from February 20 toย Marchย 1.ย (GNS)
