Srinagar: World famous ski resort of Gulmarg and other upper reaches received fresh snowfall while rain lashed plains in Kashmir valley, resulting in dip in the day temperature.
However, the night temperature improved and settled above normal across Kashmir valley, where moderate rain and snow is predicted during the next 72 hours under the influence of a Western Disturbance (WD), which is active in the region.
A Met department spokesperson told UNI that moderate rain and snow would occur at widespread places in Kashmir valley during the next 48 hours. “Light to moderate rain and snow would also occur on Friday,” he said, adding the weather will remain dry on Saturday and Sunday.
But, he said a fresh WD, which originated from the Arabian Sea and will approach the region through Afghanistan and Pakistan, will hit the region on February 25. “The WD will result in more rain and snow,” he added.
Gulmarg, where ski slopes are covered under several feet of snow, received fresh intermittent snowfall since Tuesday evening. “Gulmarg received fresh about two to three inches of snow since Tuesday evening. Tourists are enjoying as for some it is the first snowfall of their life. They are enjoying various snow related activities, including skiing,” a hotelier told UNI over the phone.
However, he said post Pulwama attack many bookings from many parts of the country have been cancelled. “Despite attacks on Kashmiris in rest of the country, not a single tourist has been harmed in the valley. But, due to negative perception created by a section of media, many tourists are cancelling their booking, even for the month of the month of March,” he said.
He said Kongdori and Apharwat, the highest point of the cable car project in Gulmarg, also received light to moderate snowfall. The night temperature at the ski resort improved and settled at minus 5.6 degree, against minus 6.8 degree recorded on Tuesday. The temperature was about a degree above normal.
World famous health resort of Pahalgam, about 100 km from here in south Kashmir, received light to moderate rain since early this morning, resulting in dip in the day temperature. Against minus 4.4 degree recorded on Tuesday, the night temperature at Pahalgam was minus 0.5 degree, which is 3.5 degree above normal.
However, the upper reaches in Pahalgam, including Chandanwari, the last motorable halting station for Amarnath cave shrine on the traditional yatra route, also received fresh light to moderate snowfall. Amarnath cave shine and its periphery, besides Sheshnag, Mahagung, Pisso top and Panjterni, also received moderate to heavy snowfall.
After witnessing improvement in the night temperature, people woke up to a chilly Wednesday morning in the summer capital, Srinagar. As the days progressed, rain lashed the summer capital in the evening, resulting in dip in the maximum temperature, which settled over 2 degree below normal.
The spokesperson said that moderate rain and snow would occur during the next 24 hours in Srinagar, where the maximum and minimum temperature will be around 4 degree and 1 degree, respectively.
Fresh snowfall was also witnessed at various places, including Qazigund and Jawahar Tunnel on Srinagar-Jammu national highway, which was reopened this evening for one-way traffic after remaining suspended since early this morning. The mercury at Qazigund, gateway to the valley, Kupwara in north Kashmir, improved and settled at 0.6 degree and 0.3 degree, respectively.
