SRINAGAR: With no forecast of a major weather activity till the end of this month, the deficit rainfall in Jammu and Kashmir has increased to 78 per cent during the last two and a half months, with South Kashmir’s Shopian topping the list with 96 per cent deficiency from October 1, 2024, to December 18, 2024.
According to the details, Jammu and Kashmir is witnessing an increase in the deficit rainfall with each passing week as the prolonged dry spell has continued for the last two months at multiple places.
The deficiency increases at a time when the cold wave has tightened its grip across Kashmir, where the summer capital of Jammu and Kashmir, Srinagar, has recorded the coldest night of the season at minus 6.0 degree Celsius.
Gulmarg, a famous ski resort, recorded a low of minus 5.0 degree Celsius.
In Pahalgam, the mercury settled at minus 6.8 degree Celsius, while in Qazigund, a gateway of Kashmir, it settled at minus 7.0 degree Celsius. North Kashmir’s Kupwara recorded a low of minus 6.2 degree Celsius, while Kokernag in South Kashmir recorded a minimum temperature of 5.3 degree Celsius.
Meanwhile, the deficit precipitation has gone further up to 75 percent across Jammu and Kashmir from October 1, 2024, to December 19, 2024. Against the normal precipitation of 97.1mm, J&K has recorded a rainfall of 21 mm during the period.
The highest deficit has been recorded in Shopian with 96 percent, followed by Poonch with 95 percent, while Kulgam and Budgam have recorded a deficit rainfall of 94 percent and 90 percent, respectively.
Srinagar has recorded a deficit rainfall of 87 percent. However, Samba is the only place across J&K where above-normal rainfall has been recorded. Against the normal precipitation of 41.76 mm, the station has recorded a precipitation of 47 mm during the period.
Kupwara has recorded a deficit rainfall of 41 percent during the period, the data reads.
Moreover, the weather is expected to remain dry for the next 24 hours, while light snowfall is expected over a few higher reaches on December 21 and 22, the Director of the Meteorological Department (MeT) said.
From December 23 to 24, dry weather conditions are expected in J&K, followed by light snowfall over higher reaches towards the evening or night of December 27 to the morning of December 28, he said, adding that the weather would remain generally dry on December 29 and 30.
He added that light snow is also expected at a few higher reaches on December 31.
Furthermore, the MeT in its advisory has said that the cold wave is expected to continue at isolated to scattered places.
In view of fresh snowfall, sub-freezing temperatures, and icy conditions over roads of important passes and higher reaches, tourists, travelers, and transporters are advised to follow administration and traffic advisory. (KNO)
