SRINAGAR: Jammu and Kashmir is likely to experience fairly widespread light to moderate rain and thunderstorms over the next 24 hours, with the India Meteorological Department (IMD) forecasting another spell of wet weather across the Union Territory during the coming days.
According to the weather forecast issued by the Meteorological Centre, Srinagar, at 11 am on Sunday, Kashmir is expected to witness fairly widespread rainfall from August 17 to 20, followed by scattered rain on August 21 and 22. Jammu division, meanwhile, is likely to see widespread rainfall from August 17 to 20 before the activity decreases to fairly widespread levels over the following two days.
The IMD has warned of isolated thunder, lightning and gusty winds reaching 30-40 kmph across Kashmir during the seven-day forecast period. It has also cautioned of the possibility of landslides, mudslides, shooting stones and flash floods at vulnerable places.
Jammu division is expected to face a relatively more intense spell. Isolated heavy to very heavy rain has been forecast from August 16 to 20, accompanied by thunderstorms, lightning and gusty winds of 30-40 kmph. The weather office has also warned of landslides, mudslides, shooting stones and flash floods at vulnerable locations.
The advisory for August 21 and 22 indicates isolated thunder, lightning and gusty winds in Jammu as well, along with the possibility of landslides, mudslides, shooting stones and flash floods at vulnerable places.
For Monday, August 17, Srinagar is likely to witness partly cloudy skies with light rain or thunderstorms, with the maximum and minimum temperatures expected to remain around 29°C and 21°C, respectively.
Jammu is forecast to remain generally cloudy with moderate to heavy rain or thunderstorms, with temperatures hovering around 32°C and 27°C. Muzaffarabad and Mirpur are also likely to receive light to moderate rain or thunderstorms, with maximum temperatures of around 34°C and 33°C, respectively.
During the past 24 hours till 8:30 am on Sunday, maximum temperatures in Kashmir remained 0-3°C above normal at many places, while temperatures in Jammu division were generally 0-2°C above normal.
Srinagar recorded the highest maximum temperature in Kashmir at 32°C, while Kathua was the warmest in Jammu division at 32.8°C.
The night temperature remained 0-3°C around normal across many parts of Kashmir and 0-3°C above normal at several places in Jammu division. Gulmarg recorded the lowest minimum temperature in Kashmir at 11.6°C, while Bhaderwah recorded 17.4°C in Jammu division.
The weather office said light to moderate rain was recorded during the period, with Jammu receiving the highest rainfall of 4.9 mm. The detailed station chart on page three also records 41 mm rainfall at Mirpur during the period covered by the bulletin.
The IMD has advised people in vulnerable areas to remain alert as the wet spell could trigger landslides, mudslides, shooting stones and flash floods, particularly in susceptible areas.
The seven-day forecast has been issued for the period from 8:30 am on August 16 to 8:30 am on August 23.
