Excelsior Correspondent
SRIANGAR, Mar 11: Rain lashed the Valley while the higher reaches of Kashmir had overnight snowfall leading to drop in the temperatures across the region today.
Rains lashed Kashmir since morning while higher reaches had fresh snowfall leading to drop in the temperatures across the region with many places recording below normal temperatures when last week they were around 10 degrees Celsius above normal.
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Srinagar settled at a maximum of 12.5 Degree Celsius today which is 2.2 degree Celsius below normal for this time of the year. Pahalgam settled at 9.0 Degree Celsius and Kupwara at 10.2 Degree Celsius which is 2.4 Degree Celsius and 4.3 Degree Celsius below normal respectively for these two places.
The maximum temperatures at Qazigund, Kokernag and Gulmarg also dropped and settled at 18. 6 Degree Celsius, 19.4 Degree Celsius and 5.4 Degree Celsius respectively. It was however 4.7 Degree Celsius, 6.8 Degree Celsius and 0.8 Degree Celsius above normal for these places.
The Meteorological Department Srinagar said that light to moderate precipitation was recorded at several places across Kashmir during the last 24 hours. It said that Gulmarg, Kupwara and other higher altitude areas received snowfall, while plains such as Srinagar, Pahalgam and parts of North Kashmir recorded light rainfall. Kupwara received about 6.4 mm of rain, Gulmarg recorded 2.8 mm, while Srinagar registered around 1.2 mm during the period.
It said that the rain and snow during the last 24 hours has brought down the temperature.
The weather office said generally cloudy conditions with light to moderate rain in plains and snowfall over higher reaches are likely to be scattered to many places on March 11 and 12.
Weather is expected to remain generally dry on March 13 and 14.
“Another spell of generally cloudy weather with light rain or snowfall in higher reaches is likely around the night of March 15 and morning of March 16 at scattered places,” the MeT said.
It said isolated light precipitation may also occur on the night of March 17, while scattered rain or snowfall is possible again between March 18 and 19.
“Farmers have been advised to suspend farm operations till March 12”, the MET department advisory has said.
Rain and snow have brought relief to the people especially in the Valley where Jhelum River and other water bodies including mountain streams, springs and wells were running with very low discharge.
Kashmir Valley witnessed unexpectedly high temperatures during the month of February and this resulted in early bloom of almond, apple, pear and other fruits.
Farmers and fruit growers have been expressing serious concern on the availability of water during the summer months. Except for a few late winter snowfalls, especially in southern districts of the Valley, winter was generally cold and dry this season.
All requirements of safe drinking water, water for irrigation and horticulture is completely dependent on the various water bodies. These water bodies are sustained by perennial water reservoirs in the mountains that get replenished during the winter months.
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