Srinagar : Rains and snow lashed Kashmir Valley, mainly from Tuesday evening, even as the minimum temperature stayed several degrees below the freezing point across Kashmir.
“Rain/snow very likely to intensify with main activity later tonight (January 24) and tomorrow (January 25),” a meteorological department official here told GNS, adding, “Heavy snowfall is very likely over middle and higher reaches.”
He said the weather system may affect surface transportation over major passes, Jammu-Srinagar highway.
“It may cause avalanches is avalanche-prone area,” he said, adding, “People are advised to avoid venturing out in avalanche-prone area during snowfall days.”
He urged people to travel after confirming road status from concerned traffic department.
The official here told GNS that Srinagar recorded a low of minus 2.3°C against last night’s minus 3.4°C. Today’s minimum temperature, he said, is normal for the summer capital.
Qazigund, he said, recorded a low of minus 0.6°C against 1.0°C on the previous night and it was 3.3°C above normal for the gateway town of Kashmir.
Pahalgam, he said, recorded a low of minus 8.8°C against minus 4.7°C on the previous night and it was 1.1°C below normal for the famous tourist resort in south Kashmir’s Anantnag district.
Kokernag recorded a low of minus 3.5°C against minus 2.7°C on the previous night and it was 0.1°C above normal for the place, the officials said.
Gulmarg recorded a low of minus 9.6°C against minus 9.6°C on the previous night and it was 1.3°C below normal for the world famous skiing resort in north Kashmir’s Baramulla district, he said.
In Kupwara town, he said, the mercury settled at minus 3.4°C against minus 2.9°C on the previous night and it was normal for the north Kashmir area.
Jammu recorded a low of 8.5°C against 6.5°C on the previous night. It was 1.5°C above normal for J&K’s winter capital, he said.
Banihal recorded a low of 0.3°C (above normal by 0.6°C), Batote 1.5°C (above normal by 0.1°C), Katra 7.2°C (1.2°C above normal) and Bhadarwah 0.8°C (2.1°C above normal).
Ladakh’s Leh and Kargil recorded a low of minus 10.2°C and minus 16.8°C respectively, the official said.
Kashmir is under the grip of Chillai-Kalan, the 40-day long harsh winter period that started on December 21. It does not mean an end to the winter either. It is followed by a 20-day-long period called ‘Chillai-Khurd’ that occurs between January 30 and February 19 and a 10-day-long period ‘Chillai-Bachha’ (baby cold) which is from February 20 to March 1.(GNS)