Srinagar, Feb 09: Amid forecast for widespread light to moderate snowfall and rain during the next 24 hours, minimum temperature increased above normal in Jammu and Kashmir.
A meteorological department official here told GNS that it has already started to rain and snow in North Kashmir including Kupwara and Gulmarg.
โWidespread light to moderate snowfall/rain is expected in Jammu and Kashmir with chances of heavy snowfall over higher reaches today,โ he said, adding, โCloudy weather with light rain/snow at scattered places of J&K was expected on Friday.โ Thereafter, he said, mainly dry weather was expected for one week.
The weather department also urged people living in avalanche prone areas to โstay alert and awayโ from the vulnerable areas.
โPeople should travel after confirming the road status especially over higher reaches and Srinagar-Jammu highway after confirming road status from concerned traffic police.โ
Meanwhile, he said, Srinagar recorded an increase in temperature, recording a low of 0.4ยฐC against minus 0.1ยฐC on the previous night. Todayโs minimum temperature, he said, was above normal by 1.2ยฐC for the summer capital.
Qazigund, he said, recorded a low of minus 0.8ยฐC against minus 1.8ยฐC on the previous night and it was 0.7ยฐC above normal for the gateway town of Kashmir.
Pahalgam, he said, recorded a low of minus 2.4ยฐC against minus 7.6ยฐC on the previous night and it was 3.8ยฐC above normal for the famous tourist resort in south Kashmirโs Anantnag district.
Kokernag recorded a low of minus 0.6ยฐC against minus 0.1ยฐC on the previous night and it was 1.4ยฐC above normal for the place, the officials said.
Gulmarg recorded a low of minus 4.2ยฐC against minus 6.5ยฐC on the previous night and it was 2.5ยฐC above normal for the world famous skiing resort in north Kashmirโs Baramulla district, he said.
In Kupwara town, he said, the mercury settled at 2.3ยฐC against minus 1.9ยฐC on the previous night and it was 4.3ยฐC above normal for the north Kashmir area.
Jammu recorded a low of 9.9ยฐC against 8.3ยฐC on the previous night. It was 0.4ยฐC above normal for J&Kโs winter capital, he said.
Banihal, he said, recorded a low of 2.6ยฐC (above normal by 1.6ยฐC). Batote 5.7ยฐC (below normal by 3.5ยฐC), Katra 9.1ยฐC (1.7ยฐC above normal) and Bhadarwah 3.7ยฐC (4.0ยฐC above normal).
Ladakhโs Leh and Kargil recorded a low of minus 10.0ยฐC and minus 15.0ยฐC respectively, the official said.
While Chillai-Kalan, the 40-day long harsh winter period that started on December 21 has ended, Kashmir is under the grip of a 20-day-long period called โChillai-Khurdโ. It will be followed by a 10-day-long period โChillai-Bachhaโ (baby cold) which is from February 20 to March 1. (GNS)
