SRINAGAR: Fresh snowfall in mountains and incessant rain in plains occurred in J&K on Friday as the meteorological (MeT) department forecast inclement weather up to March 16.
“Widespread moderate to isolated heavy rain/snow in Kashmir, scattered light rain in plains of Jammu. Expect gradual improvement from today evening. Thunderstorm with rain most likely at some places of south Kashmir. More rain/snow is expected to occur on March 14-15 after which dry weather is likely,” said Sonam Lotus, director of the MeT department.
“Remain alert for landslides and avalanche in vulnerable spots as land is fully saturated,” he said.
He said that Gulmarg, the famous skiing resort in north Kashmir’s Baramulla district received 45 centimetres of fresh snowfall in the last 24 hours.
Rain and snow have hit parts of the Kashmir valley intermittently since Sunday, bringing down the temperatures.
Gulmarg, the famous skiing resort in north Kashmir was the coldest place in the Valley where the minimum temperature was minus 2.4 degrees Celsius.
Srinagar, the summer capital of the state recorded a low of 2.2 degrees Celsius while Kokernag in south Kashmir recorded a low of 3.0 degree Celsius.
The night temperature in Pahalgam – the famous health resort which also serves as one of the base camps for the annual Amarnath Yatra – settled at a low of 0.3 degrees.
Kupwara town in north Kashmir registered a low of minus 0.7 degrees Celsius last night while Qazigund in south Kashmir recorded a low of 3.0 degree Celsius .
Jammu city recorded 17.5 degrees Celsius, Katra 14.4, Batote 6.1, Banihal recorded 4.8 and Bhaderwah recorded 6.0 degrees Celsius as the night’s lowest temperatures.
