Excelsior Correspondent
Srinagar, Jan 29: As a fresh Western Disturbance (WD) affected Kashmir this afternoon, Weatherman has forecast widespread light to moderate snow in Kashmir from tonight and on January 30.
A Meteorological Department official said that moderate to heavy snowfall over middle and higher reaches was likely under the influence of the weather system.
“Under the influence of (the weather) system, widespread light to moderate snow in plains/rain (in Jammu) and moderate to heavy snowfall over middle reaches and higher reaches with heavy to very heavy over higher reaches of Pirpanjal, South Kashmir, Doda-Kistawar etc. most likely during tonight to tomorrow afternoon and gradual decrease thereafter (>75% chance),” he said.
On January 31, he said that cloudy weather with light snow/rain at isolated to scattered places was expected on January 31. “From 1st-4th February, partly cloudy weather is expected,” he added.
He said that the weather system was likely to cause snow avalanche in the areas prone to them for few days and was also likely to affect surface and Air traffic tomorrow.
Regarding temperature, Srinagar recorded a low of minus 2.4°C against 1.7°C on the previous night. Today’s minimum temperature was below normal by 1.4°C for the city.
Qazigund recorded a low of minus 2.8°C against 0.2°C on the previous night and it was 0.2°C below normal for the town.
Pahalgam recorded a low of minus 5.6°C against minus 6.9°C on the previous night and it was 0.5°C above normal for the tourist resort.
Kokernag recorded a low of minus 2.7°C against minus 0.7°C on the previous night and it was 0.1°C below normal for the place.
Gulmarg recorded a low of minus 7.2°C, the same as on the previous night and it was 0.3°C above normal for the skiing resort.
In Kupwara town, the mercury settled at minus 1.0°C against minus 2.6°C on the previous night and it was above 1.5°C below normal for the town.
Leh and Kargil recorded a low of minus 13.0°C and minus 10.6°C respectively.
Kashmir is under the grip of Chillai-Kalan, the 40-day long harsh winter period that started on December 21 and ends tonight. It does not mean an end to the winter either. It is followed by a 20-day-long period called ‘Chillai-Khurd’ that occurs between January 30 and February 19 and a 10-day-long period ‘Chillai-Bachha’ (baby cold) which is from February 20 to March 1.
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