Excelsior Correspondent
Srinagar, Jan 17: The Weatherman today forecast week long heavy snowfall in Kashmir due to Western disturbances that will bring high moisture content from Arabian Sea and lead to disruption of air and surface traffic.
The Director Meteorological Department, Sonam Lotus, issued weather advisory saying that there will be heavy snowfall in Western Himalayas especially Kashmir.
“An active Western Disturbance will most likely affect the State of J&K and adjoining areas from January 19 to 25. There will be high moisture feeding from the Arabian Sea over Northwest India specifically over Western Himalayan Region (WHR) from January 20 to 24”, reads the advisory issued by Lotus.
“Under the influence of this system, moderate to heavy snow/rain (in plains of Jammu region) is expected at widespread places of Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh regions. Light snowfall would commence at a few places of Kashmir on January 19 forenoon and increase intensity and distribution thereafter,” reads an advisory.
“The main activity of this system (heavy to very heavy with isolated very heavy rain/snow) is most likely during January 20 to 23 and gradual decrease thereafter”, reads the advisory.
As per the advisory, the weather system may lead to disruption of surface and air transportation like Srinagar-Jammu highway.
The advisory says that heavy precipitation may cause avalanches in higher reaches, landslide, water logging in low lying areas. “Farmers are advised to take all precautionary measures to avoid loses due to heavy snow and rain”, advisory adds.
The weatherman also forecasts a significant fall in day temperature and a slight rise in night temperature during the day between January 19 and 25.
And in the meantime, the day temperature hovered below normal in Kashmir Valley today.
A Meteorological Department official said that Srinagar recorded a maximum of 3.3 degree Celsius, more than three degrees below normal for this time of the year, while low settle at minus 1.3 degree Celsius.
Pahalgam recorded a maximum of 1.0 degree Celsius while Qazigund, recorded day temperature of 3.0 degrees Celsius while Kokernag, also in South Kashmir, recorded a maximum of 1.2 degrees Celsius. The minimum temperatures at these three places was recorded at minus 5.1 degrees Celsius, minus 0.2 degrees Celsius and minus 2.0 degrees Celsius.
The famous ski-resort of Gulmarg in North Kashmir saw a maximum of minus 3.2 degrees Celsius and a minimum of minus 10.0 degrees Celsius.
Kupwara town in North Kashmir registered a maximum of 2.5 degrees Celsius and a low of minus 1.5 degree Celsius.
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