Mercury dips sharply, Eid travel may be hit
Gulmarg, Sonamarg receive fresh snowfall; plains witness steady rain
Weather to improve from March 21; another wet spell likely later
Irfan Yattoo
Srinagar: Intermittent rainfall in the plains and fresh snowfall in higher reaches continued for the fourth consecutive day on Wednesday, bringing back chilly conditions across the Kashmir Valley, even as the Meteorological Department forecast more inclement weather till March 20.
Officials said an active Western Disturbance over the region has led to widespread cloud cover and precipitation, affecting both upper reaches and plains.
Popular tourist destinations, including Gulmarg and Sonamarg, received fresh snowfall, while the plains of Srinagar saw intermittent drizzle throughout the day.
Director MeT, Dr. Mukhtar Ahmad, told Kashmir Horizon that the prevailing weather conditions will continue until March 20. A few higher reaches of Chenab Valley and south Kashmir could receive moderate to heavy snowfall during this period, he said.
As per the MeT Department, the weather is likely to remain generally dry from March 21 to 25, with a brief spell of light rain or snow at a few places on March 23. Between March 26 and 28, conditions are expected to remain generally cloudy, with light rain or snowfall in higher reaches at scattered to many places.
An advisory has been issued for travellers, transporters and the general public, particularly those moving through higher reaches and key mountain passes, to plan their journeys carefully between March 18 and 20. The MeT has warned of the possibility of heavy rain or snowfall in higher reaches at a few places, accompanied by thunder and gusty winds (40–50 kmph), with chances of hailstorms at isolated locations during this period.
Farmers have also been advised to suspend all agricultural operations from March 18 to 20 due to adverse weather conditions.
The ongoing wet spell has led to lower daytime temperatures across the Valley, pushing the mercury below normal and bringing back a noticeable chill, especially in the mornings and evenings.
The weather conditions align with the expected Eid-ul-Fitr celebration, likely on March 20 or 21, subject to the sighting of the moon.
Meanwhile, continuous rainfall lashed the plains through the day, pulling temperatures sharply below normal across the Kashmir Valley.
Srinagar recorded a maximum temperature of 8.4°C, nearly 8 degrees below the seasonal average. Qazigund registered 9.2°C, while Pahalgam settled at 7.6°C. Kupwara and Kokernag also recorded 9.2°C each, all marking a significant dip from normal levels. Gulmarg, the ski resort, remained the coldest
