Srinagar: The higher reaches of Kashmir valley including the ski resort of Gulmarg experienced a fresh snowfall on Sunday, officials said.
The fresh snowfall also shuts the historic Mughal road connecting the Shopian district of south Kashmir with the twin districts of Rajouri and Poonch in Jammu division and Sinthan road in Kishtwar, Traffic police officials said.
The tourists were overjoyed at the famous ski resort of Gulmarg in north Kashmir’s Baramulla district after seeing the fresh snowfall on Sunday.
Reports of snowfall were also received from the Machhil and Bangus valley in north Kashmir’s Kupwara district and the upper reaches of Bandipora district. Some higher reaches of the mountainous pass of Pir Panjal range in Jammu and Kashmir also received fresh snowfall.
With the snowfall on the higher reaches the cold wave conditions further intensified in the Kashmir valley after night temperature had improved the previous night despite staying at below freezing point.
The Meteorological Centre in Srinagar predicted the weather will remain generally cloudy with the possibility of light rain over a few areas of plains and hilly areas of Jammu division and light rain and snow over the higher and at a few places of Kashmir valley during December 8 to December 9 forenoon.
An independent weather forecaster, Faizan Arif said, there is a possibility of light snowfall in a few higher reaches of Kashmir valley towards evening Sunday while a minor rain spell is possible at a few spots of Jammu region also.
There is a possibility of a minor snow spell in a few areas, particularly towards the morning of December 9 with maximum chances for south Kashmir parts and thereafter the weather expected will be partly cloudy to sunny towards the afternoon.
He said light rain/snow is expected in some parts of Doda, Kishtwar, Kathua, and Ramban districts also. A minor rain spell in other districts of Jammu region can’t be ruled out, he added.
The weather is likely to remain dry on December 10.
On December 11 a minor snow spell in higher reaches of central Kashmir’s Ganderbal district and Bandipora district of north Kashmir can’t be ruled out.
Another weak Western Disturbance that will likely hit on December 12 may cause light rain/snow in a few areas of Kashmir Valley.
The weather will mostly remain dry till December 17, he said.
The night temperature at the ski resort of Gulmarg in north Kashmir’s Baramulla district improved by a couple of notches but remained the coldest place with the mercury settled at -3.4°C on Sunday.
Srinagar had a low of minus 0.5°C against the minus 2.0°C recorded on Saturday and this was 0.1°C above normal for the summer capital of Jammu and Kashmir during this period of the season, the MeT office said.
The mercury at the tourist spot of Pahalgam settled at minus 2.8°C on Sunday against the minus 4.3°C recorded the previous night and this was normal for the valley of shepherds in south Kashmir’s Anantnag district.
Qazigund recorded a low of minus 1.0°C against the minus 2.4°C a day ago and it was 0.3°C below normal for the gateway to Kashmir on this day.
Kokernag also in south Kashmir recorded a low of 0.4°C against the minus 2.2°C the previous night and this was 1.0°C above normal for the picnic spot.
The night temperature at the border district of Kupwara significantly improved and recorded at 0.4°C on Sunday against the minus 3.6°C recorded the previous night. This was 1.9°C above normal for the frontier place during this period of the season, the Met office said.
UNI
