Kashmir parts receive season’s first snowfall, widespread rains lash plains

Srinagar: The higher reaches in northern Kashmir and Zojilla received season’s first snowfall on Monday while the plains in Jammu and Kashmir received widespread rainfall, bringing down the temperature across J&K.
Officials in the Meteorological department said that the higher reaches of Gulmarg, a world famous ski-resort and several others areas of Line of Control (LoC) and Zojilla received light snowfall while widespread rains lashed plains intermittently since last night.
The fresh snowfall in higher reaches and widespread rains brought the mercury down in Jammu and Kashmir with officials stating that Srinagar, the summer capital of J&K recorded 16.4 degree Celsius temperature and Jammu, the winter capital of UT recorded 33.7 degree Celsius temperature Monday.
According to the officials, 5.8 degree Celsius temperature was recorded in Gulmarg, while 17.8 and 14.8 degree Celsius was recorded in Qazigund and Pahalgam areas respectively.
MeT officials said that Kupwara in north Kashmir recorded 13.1 degree Celsius temperature Monday, adding that most of the districts across the Valley recorded below normal temperature Monday.
Officials said that the Razdan Top, located at an elevation of near 12000ft, has received at least 12 inches of snow following which the traffic movement on Bandipora-Gurez road was suspended.
He said that the light snowfall was also witnessed in other hilly areas including Sadnah-Top, Z-Gali Machil, Sonamarg and Zojila Pass of this north Kashmir district.
Meanwhile, Director MeT, Sonum Lotus said that the light rains would likely continue till Tuesday evening, adding that the weather would remain generally cloudy till tomorrow evening.
“According to the prediction, there is a possibility of improvement in the weather conditions from tomorrow evening,” he said