Srinagar: After recording heavy to very snowfall, weather woes will continue in the Kashmir valley as more rain and snow is predicted during the next 24 hours though dry but chilly weather continued since last evening in most areas.
Sun remained behind the dark clouds, forcing authorities to suspend air traffic from Srinagar International airport while Srinagar-Jammu national highway also remained closed for the second day today due to heavy snowfall during the past 24 hours.
However, snowfall started again this afternoon, including in Srinagar, where majority roads are still under snow as authorities have cleared snow on only few main roads for VIPs, alleged people.
Light to moderate rain or snow will occur at many places over Jammu and Kashmir during the next 24 hours, a Met department official told UNI. However, during the subsequent 48 hours isolated to scattered light rain or snow could occur in the state, he added.
Gulmarg, the famed ski resort where the world class slopes are under more than four feet of snow ready to receive skiers and adventure lovers, recorded coldest night of the season due to clear sky when the minimum temperature more than two degree drop and settled at minus 8.2 degree, against one and half a notch below normal. The upper reaches, including Seven Springs (Kongdori), Khilanmarg and Affarwat, the highest skiing point connected by Cable Car from the base, received more than five feet snowfall during the past two days. A good number of tourists, including locals, were enjoying snow, skiing and taking photographs on the slopes after five month long dry spell.
The entire north Kashmir received heavy to very heavy snowfall resulting in closure of dozens of roads, linking far flung and remote village, including near the Line of Control (LoC). However, security forces remained deployed on the LoC, where more than five to seven feet of snowfall was received, to foil any infiltration attempt by militants. Main Kupwara town received about one feet of snowfall though the night temperature remained above normal. Against yesterdays 0.3 degree, it was 0.1 degree, two notches above normal.
The entire south Kashmir also received moderate to very heavy snowfall during the past 24 hours. At Qazigund, where hundreds of vehicles are stranded during the past two days due to closure of the Srinagar-Jammu national highway, received about a foot of snowfall. However the minimum temperature there remained three notches above normal.
Kokernag, a tourist resort also in south Kashmir received about two feet of snowfall and due to open sky the minimum temperature recorded two degree drop. Against yesterdays 0.3 degree, it was minus 2.3 degree, but still two notches above normal.
After dry weather since last evening, it started light snowfall this afternoon in the summer capital, Srinagar, where majority roads, particularly inner side, lanes and bylanes remained slippery as snow has not been cleared. However, majority main roads, particularly leading to hospitals and being used by VIPs have been cleared. Though some machines have been put into service in the uptown, but roads remained slippery due to few inches of snow which was still there.
Met spokesman said Srinagar witnessed coldest day of the season yesterday after the mercury dropped and settled at 0.6 degree, five notches below normal following more than a feet of snowfall.The minimum temperature was however, still a notch above normal though it had witnessed slight drop. He said light rain or snow could occur and the maximum and minimum temperatures would be around 5 degree, two notches still below normal and minus 2 degree respectively during the next 24 hours.
Leh recorded considerable improvement in the weather due to cloudy sky and the minimum temperature witnessed surge and settled at minus 4.1 degree against yesterdays minus 9.5 degree while the temperature of border town of Kargil was not available, he said.
He said there could be light snowfall and the maximum and minimum temperatures would be around 0 degree and minus 8 degree respectively during the next 24 hours at Leh , where wet weather eluded for the past few months.
At winter capital, Jammu, where the government is functioning since the Darbar shifted there in November, there could be light rain or thundershowers and the maximum and minimum temperature would be around 14 degree and 8 degree respectively during the next 24 hours.
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