SRINAGAR : Mercury remained below normal as sun was playing hide and seek in the Kashmir valley, where weather was pleasant though fruit, vegetable, flowers and other crops were deprived of bright sunshine.
A large number of people could still be seen wearing warm cloths as the weather remained relatively cold in the morning and evening hours in the valley, including summer capital, Srinagar.
A Met department spokesman said here this afternoon that isolated rain or thundershowers would occur at some places in the Jammu and Kashmir during the next 24 hours.
During the subsequent two days, light to moderate rain or thundershowers would occurred at few place in the state, he said. Wet weather, including snow, and below normal temperature during the past about two months has badly affected the fruit crops, particularly delayed Cherry and Strawberry.
Below normal temperature has also affected local vegetables and other crops. Growing of flowers has also been badly affected as majority flowers of different varieties are yet to bloom because of wet and cloudy weather.
Pahalgam, which is gearing up to serve as base camp for the annual 59-day-long pilgrimage to holy Amarnath cave shrine in south Kashmir Himalayas, starting from July 2, recorded lowest minimum temperature in the valley after 5 mm rainfall during the night.
Met spokesman said against yesterdays 5.5 degrees, it was 5.1 degrees a notch below normal at the famed tourist resort. However, temperature at world famous ski resort of Gulmarg, 55 km from here in north Kashmir, was not available for the second day today as per Met spokesman. He said the local office at Gulmarg could not be contacted because of communication problem.
The mercury remained below normal in the summer capital, Srinagar, where sun was playing hide and seek since this morning after recording more than three degree below normal minimum temperature. Spokesman said the minimum temperature in the city was 24.2 degree yesterday which was three notches below normal while minimum temperature was 8.9 degree, three degree below normal.
He said the sky would be partly cloudy and there is possibility of rain or thundershowers in Srinagar during the next 24 hours when the minimum and maximum temperature would be around 25 degree and 12 degree respectively. Qazigund recorded 9.7 degree, more than a notch below normal while at Kokernag it was 8.6 degree, more than two degree below normal, Kupwara in north Kashmir it was 8.1 degree, three degree below normal.
However, Leh and Kargil in Ladakh region witnessed increase in the minimum temperature. Against 7.2 degree it was 8.9 degree while at Kargil, a border town it was 5.8 degree against 5 degree recorded yesterday.
He said the sky would be mainly clear and the maximum and minimum temperatures would be around 19 degree and 7 degree respectively at Leh during the next 24 hours. The sky would be partly and maximum and minimum temperatures would be around 39 degree and 23 degree respectively at winter capital, Jammu during the next 24 hours. (AGENCIES)
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