Fayaz Bukhari
SRINAGAR, Dec 1: The night temperatures across Kashmir dropped today due to clear skies but stayed above normal and Meteorological Department forecast dry weather for next 24 hours across the State.
The 434-km-long Srinagar-Leh highway that was closed for traffic due to snowfall and slippery road conditions for two days was re-opened for traffic today.
Srinagar recorded lowest temperature at 0.3 degree Celsius last night which is normal for this part of the season.
Qazigund recorded a low of 0.2 degree Celsius, Pahalgam recorded minimum temperature of minus 0. 3 degree Celsius, while in Gulmarg it was minus 3 degree Celsius, Kupwara in North recorded minus 2.8 degree Celsius and Kokernag recorded 2.3 degree Celsius.
The minimum temperature in Jammu city was also a degree above normal at 11.6 degree Celsius. Katra recorded 11.8 degree Celsius, Batote 7.9 degree Celsius, Banihal 5.8 degree Celsius and Bhaderwah 4.4 degree Celsius as the lowest night temperature.
Srinagar recorded maximum day temperature of 14 degree Celsius while normal day temperature for this time of the year is 12 degree Celsius, Qazigund recorded 13.9 degree Celsius, Pahalgam 11.6 degree Celsius, Kupwara 14.3 degree Celsius, Kokernag 15.1 degree Celsius, Gulmarg 5 degree Celsius, Leh 9.2 degree Celsius and Kargil 6.8 degree Celsius.
The day temperatures in Jammu city was recorded at 25.2 degree Celsius, while it was 21.5 degree Celsius in Katra town, 18.8 degree Celsius in Batote, 18. 7 degree Celsius in Banihal and 18 degree Celsius in Bhaderwah town.
A MeT official said that weather in Srinagar will mainly remain dry with clear sky. He said that maximum and minimum temperatures will be around 15 °C and -2 °C respectively.
The official said that weather in Jammu will be mainly dry with clear sky tomorrow with maximum and minimum temperatures to stay around 26 °C and 11 °C respectively.
The official said that in Leh the sky will be clear and weather dry with maximum and minimum temperatures to stay around 10 °C and -4°C respectively.
Srinagar-Leh National Highway that remained closed for two days due to snowfall in Zojila area was re-opened for traffic today. The traffic on the highway remained closed for two days as more than a feet snowfall had accumulated between Sonamarg, Zojila and Meenamarg.
Border Roads Organisation (BRO), responsible for the maintenance of the highway, pressed into service its men and machine to clear the snow on the highway. However, the road was slippery that forced its closure.
An official said that one-way traffic will be allowed from Srinagar to Leh on the highway tomorrow as the road is slippery in the areas between Sonamarg and Meenamarg.
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