SRINAGAR: The higher reaches of Kashmir Valley received fresh snowfall while many areas in the plains received rains leading to drop in temperature, as the MeT department predicted more showers and snow for today.
Fresh snowfall was recorded in the famous tourist resorts of Gulmarg and Pahalgam and many areas in the higher reaches of the Valley, while the plains, including Srinagar, received rains during the night, a MeT Department official said here.
Around one inch of fresh snowfall was recorded at Gulmarg and Pahalgam while its higher reaches experienced moderate to heavy snowfall of which there is no record, he said.
Snowfall was reported from higher reaches of Shopian, including Mughal Road, Sonamarg, Amarnath Cave, Sheshnag, Panjtarni, Z-Gali, Sadhna Top and Razdan Pass.
Fresh snowfall led to decrease in temperature across Kashmir division except Qazigund – the gateway town to the Valley – where the mercury increased by two notches from the previous night’s low of minus 2.2 degrees Celsius to settle at a low of minus 0.2 degree Celsius, the official said.
Night temperature once again went below freezing point in Srinagar as it recorded a low of minus 0.3 degrees Celsius, against previous night’s 0.1 degrees Celsius. It had witnessed a huge respite as mercury settled above zero degrees the previous night for the first time in last 10 days, he said.
The minimum temperature decreased by over four degrees in Pahalgam in south Kashmir as mercury settled at a low of minus 6.3 degrees Celsius compared to previous night’s minus 2.1 degrees Celsius, the official said.
Gulmarg at minus 11.4 degrees Celsius was the coldest recorded place in Jammu and Kashmir, over a degree down from the previous night’s low of minus 10 degrees Celsius, he said.
The minimum temperature at Kupwara in north Kashmir went down from previous night’s zero degrees Celsius to settle at minus 1 degree Celsius, the official said.
While Kokernag in south Kashmir registered a minimum of minus 2.3 degrees Celsius, nearly a degree down from previous night’s minus 1.5 degrees Celsius, Leh’s minimum temperature, decreased from previous night’s minus 10.2 degrees Celsius to minus 11.3 degrees Celsius, he said.
Kargil town recorded a low of minus 10.5 degrees Celsius against previous night’s minus 10.0 degrees Celsius.
The official said, there is possibility of rains in the plains and light to moderate snowfall in the higher reaches of the Valley today which is under the grip of Chillai-Kalan, the harshest period of winter, from December 21.
Chances of snowfall are frequent and maximum during this period and temperature drops considerably. It is supposed to end on January 31. But cold wave continues even after that as it is followed by 20-day long Chillai-Khurd (small cold) and 10-day long Chillai-Bachha (baby cold). (PTI)
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