Srinagar: Moderate to heavy snowfall continued on the upper reaches while the plains, including summer capital, Srinagar, received snow-rain, resulting in drop in the maximum temperature while the mercury during night remained above normal in the valley.
However, dry spells continued in Leh and border town of Kargil in Ladakh region where the mercury remained below freezing point.
A Met department spokesman said here this afternoon that light to moderate rain and snow would occur at most places in Jammu and Kashmir during the next 24 hours. There would be fairly widespread and widespread rain or snow in the state during subsequent 48 hours.
Even though snow and rain ended the more than five-month-long dry spell, wet weather affected normal life as electricity also went off in many areas while roads to far flung and remote areas, including those near the Line of Control (LoC), were also closed.
It was snowing in Srinagar when people woke up this morning after almost dry weather during the night. However, weather changed again and snow was accompanied by rain while sun also appeared briefly in the city, where uptown, including Budshah Nagar, Natipora, Pamposh colony and other areas were plunged into darkness for several hours this morning. Majority roads were also under water due to faulty drainage system, affecting pedestrian, particularly students, going to tuition and coaching centres.
The spokesman said 7.5 mm snow and rain was recorded till 0830 hrs in Srinagar, where the minimum temperature remained above normal after witnessing coldest day at 3.2 degree yesterday, four notches below normal. Against minus 0.6 degree minimum temperature recorded yesterday in Srinagar, it was minus 0.3 degree, still two notches below normal.
He said there would be rain and snow and the maximum and minimum temperatures would be around 5 degree, still two notches below normal and minus 1 degree respectively in the city during the next 24 hours.
The world class ski slopes at famed Gulmarg, which were under several feet of snow, were ready to receive skiers, adventure lovers and tourists. We are expecting good winter season after the summer was totally washed out due to unrest, those associated with tourism said, adding guests have already started arriving here.
The upper reaches, including Khilanmarg, Kongdori and Affarwat, the highest skiing point connected by Gandola Cable Car (GCC) from the base camp, received heavy to very heavy snowfall during the past 48 hours. However, the minimum temperature recorded about two degree drop though it was still above normal. Against minus 3.2 degree recorded yesterday, the minimum temperature was minus 5.2 degree, two degree above normal. The maximum temperature there yesterday was minus 1 degree, three notches below normal.
The entire north Kashmir, including areas near the LoC in frontier district of Kupwara, Bandipora and Baramulla also received moderate to heavy snowfall, resulting in closure of several roads, connecting far flung and remote areas with their district and tehsil headquarters.
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