Srinagar: After snowfall on higher reaches the night temperature dropped significantly and triggered cold weather conditions across the Kashmir valley on Sunday, officials said.
The accumulation of snow has also shut the strategic Srinagar-Sonamarg- Gumri road connecting Ladakh , Gurez-Bandipora and Sinthan roads temporarily, traffic officials said. They said the snow clearance operation is under way to make these roads traffic worthy.
The Meteorological Centre predicted the weather will remain partly cloudy on Sunday with the possibility of light rain/light Snow over the higher reaches and at the isolated places of Jammu and Kashmir.
It said a weak Western disturbance (WD) is likely to hit and can cause light rain and light snow over the higher reaches and at the scattered places towards late evening of December 2 to December 3 morning.
The weather will remain dry hereafter till December 7
On December 8 there is a possibility of another wet spell with the possibility of light rain and light snow over the higher reaches and at the isolated places, the MeT office said and added the weather will remain dry till December 10.
Kashmir valley continued to reel under the severe cold as the day and night temperatures significantly dropped after yesterday’s snowfall over the higher reaches with Konibal remained the coldest place at minus 3.5°C on Sunday.
Srinagar had a low of minus 1.3°C recorded during the intervening night of Saturday and Sunday against the 1.0°C the previous night. This was 0.9°C below normal for the summer capital of Jammu and Kashmir during this period of the season.
Srinagar’s iconic Dal Lake and other parts were also engulfed with the fog disrupting normal activities.
Qazigund recorded a low of minus 1.8°C against the minus 0.4°C a day ago and this was 1.1°C below normal for the gateway of Kashmir in south Kashmir.
The night temperature at Pahalgam improved but stayed below freezing point and recorded at minus 0.3°C on Sunday against minus 1. 5°C on Saturday. This was 2.5°C above normal for the famous tourist destination in south Kashmir.
The minimum temperature at the ski resort of Gulmarg in north Kashmir’s Baramulla district witnessed a significant drop after snowfall and recorded at minus 2.6°C against the at minus 0.5°C recorded the previous night. This was 0.2°C above normal for the valley of meadows during this period of the season.
The temperature at Kokernag also improved and recorded at 0.4C on Sunday against the 3.0°C previous night and it was 0.5°C above normal for the picnic spot of south Kashmir.
Kupwara had a low of minus 0.5°C against the 3.4°C recorded a day ago and this was 0.5°C above normal for the frontier district of north Kashmir during this period of the season, the MeT office
UNI
