Srinagar- The higher reaches of Kashmir Valley, including famous tourist resorts of Gulmarg and Sonmarg received fresh snowfall on Saturday, dipping the day temperature sharply, even as the meteorological department has predicted more rain and snowfall across the Union Territory till Sunday afternoon.
According to officials, the ski resort of Gulmarg, including Appharwat peaks received fresh snowfall on Saturday much to the delight of locals and tourists present in the bowl-shaped Valley.
Sonmarg, the gateway to Leh, also received another spell of heavy snowfall since Saturday evening. Reports of snowfall have also been reaches from the upper reaches of Pahalgam as well.
In Srinagar and other districts in the plains of the Valley, the sky remained generally cloudy with cold breeze.
Deputy Director, meteorological department in Srinagar, Mukhtar Ahmed told Kashmir Observer that precipitation is expected over the higher reaches of the Union Territory till Sunday afternoon.
“We aren’t expecting any severe precipitation to occur in this system in lower areas. However, there will be a heavy spell of rain and snow in higher reaches till 21 November,” he said.
From November 21, he said, the weather would remain partly cloudy to occasionally sunny.
“There’s a possibility of rains in plains after 28,” Ahmed said, adding that the weather will improve in plains from Monday afternoon and will continue to stay dry for a week.
The official further added that the temperatures are still around normal.
He further said that Srinagar-Jammu national Highway, Srinagar-leh National Highway, Mughal road, road connecting Anantnag-Kishtwar, Sinthan Top, Sadhna Pass and hilly roads of higher reaches like Gurez, Tulail and Karnah may be affected due the weather disturbance till 21 November.
“People should plan their travel accordingly,” Mukhtar said.
Meanwhile, a meteorological department official here said that all places recorded below than normal maximum temperature with Gulmarg recording lowest 3.6°C which was below 4.6°C than the normal for the world famous skiing resort.
However in terms of the highest fall, it was Kupwara which recorded a plunge by 6.0°C, recording maximum of 9.3°C.
Srinagar recorded maximum of 11.3°C (below 3.8°C), Qazigund 12.4°C (below 2.9°C), Pahalgam 9.4°C (below 2.2°C) and Jammu 23.7°C (below 2.4°C).
Regarding the night temperature, the MeT official said, Srinagar recorded a low of 2.2°C against 0.4°C on the previous night. The temperature was 1.6°C above normal for the summer capital during this time of the year, he said.
Qazigund recorded a low of 1.8°C against minus 0.4°C on the previous night, while the the mercury settled at minus 1.3°C against minus 4.2°C in Pahalgam.
Kokernag recorded a low of 2.8°C against 0.6°C on the previous night and it was 1.2°C above normal for the place, he said.
In Ladakh, Kargil recorded a low of minus 4.6°C, Leh minus 10.1°C and mercury in Drass, the world’s second coldest place after Siberia, settled at minus 7.1°C, the official said.
DC Kupwara Issues Weather Advisory
Meanwhile in the wake of rain and snowfall prediction, the district administration in north Kashmir’s Kupwara on Saturday issued an advisory asking the residents of higher reaches to refrain from venturing in avalanche prone areas till improvement of weather.
In view of prediction by Meteorological Department for widespread snow and rain spell of moderate intensity during 19 to 21of this month, DC Kupwara, Doifode Sagar Dattatray on Saturday issued an advisory for the people of the district in general and the people residing in the areas like Keran, Karnah, Machil, Budnamal, Jumgumd, Nowgam, Kumkadi and on the periphery of different Nallahs/rivers prone to floods, sloppy areas of the district in particular, an official spokesperson said.
“Further, the general public have been advised to avoid traveling to these areas without proper information on the weather system and in case of accumulation of snow on roads,” he said.
According to the advisory, the residents have been asked to contact the District Administration Control Room on phone number 01955-253522 and Police Control Room(PCR) Kupwara on 01955-252451 and PCR Handwara on 01955-262295 in case of any urgency.
Meanwhile, the spokesperson said, all district and sectoral officers especially the officers and officials of Irrigation & FC, PHE, PDD, R&B, Mechanical and Revenue have been directed not to leave their respective Headquarters without permission from DC office and keep their men and machinery ready to meet any exigency.
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