Freezing conditions continue in Kashmir; MeT predicts snow, rain
Srinagar, Feb 3(GNS): Freezing conditions prevailed in Kashmir Valley while weatherman forecast snow and rain at most places in J&K on Saturday.
A meteorological department official here told GNS Srinagar recorded a low of minus 1.7ยฐC against minus 0.3ยฐC on previous night and it was 1.0ยฐC below normal for the summer capital of J&K for this time of the year.
Qazigund recorded a minimum of minus 5.4ยฐC against minus 9.4ยฐC on the previous night, he said. The minimum temperature was 3.3ยฐC below normal for the gateway town of Kashmir, the MeT official said.
Pahalgam recorded a low of minus 8.3ยฐC against minus 11.9ยฐC on the previous night and it was 2.2ยฐC below normal for the famous resort in south Kashmir.
Kokernag, also in south Kashmir, recorded a minimum of minus 5.4ยฐC against minus 9.4ยฐC on the previous night and the temperature was below normal by 0.1ยฐC for the place, the official said.
Kupwara town in north Kashmir recorded a low of minus 2.4ยฐC against minus 4.4ยฐC on the previous night and it was 0.1ยฐC below normal there, the official said.
Gulmarg, the official said, recorded a low of minus 10.6ยฐC against minus 12.0ยฐC on the previous night and the temperature was below normal by 3.0ยฐC for the world famous skiing resort in north Kashmir.
Jammu, he said, recorded a minimum of 5.7ยฐC and it was below normal by 0.6ยฐC for the winter capital of J&K.
Banihal recorded a low of minus 0.8ยฐC, Batote 0.3ยฐC and Bhaderwah minus 0.5ยฐC, he said.
Regarding forecast, the MeT official here said that from February 3-4, generally cloudy weather is expected towards afternoon with possibility of light to moderate snow/rain at many places towards evening till Sunday evening with chances of heavy snowfall over isolated higher reaches.
โMiddle and higher reaches of North, Nwestern and South Kashmir may receive 8-12 inches of Snow, lower reaches & plains may receive 3-6 inches, while plains of Central Kashmir may receive rain with 1-2 inches of Snow.โ
Jammu Division may receive light to moderate rain with thunder/lightning with light to moderate snow over higher reaches of Pirpanjal Range and Chenab Valley during the period, he said.
On February 5, he said, partly to generally cloudy weather with possibility of light snow over isolated higher reaches is expected.
From February 6-13, he said, generally dry weather is expected.
As โChillai-Kalanโ, the 40-day harsh period of winter ended on January 29, Kashmir is presently in the middle of 20-day-long winter period called โChillai-Khurdโ that ends on February 19 and is followed by a 10-day-long period โChillai-Bachhaโ (baby cold) which starts from February 20 to March 1. (GNS)
