Srinagar- The weatherman on Friday issued clarification regarding “yellowish snowfall” in parts of north Kashmir, saying that the phenomenon occurred due to dust carried out by winds from central parts of Pakistan and Southern Afghanistan.
In a statement, the Meteorological department, Kashmir said “Analysis of 2nd Generation Weather Satellite (Meteosat-9) of EUMETSAT (European Operational Satellite Agency) confirms that yesterday’s Yellowish/dusty snowfall over some parts of North Kashmir was dust carried out by winds from central parts of Pakistan & Southern Afghanistan which started around 7 PM IST and travelled Northeast wards and reached North Kashmir around 02:00 hours AM(IST),”
Notably, the social media was abuzz with such yellowish-snow pictures in some parts of North and south Kashmir leaving the people puzzled.
https://twitter.com/metsrinagar/status/1624022173508849664
Deputy Director MeT, Mukhtar Ahmad told Kashmir Observer that the yellowing dust came from the two countries and was noticed by people because it was snowing.
“Had it been raining, people wouldn’t have even noticed it. This phenomenon used to happen earlier as well. There’s nothing to worry about,” Ahmad added.
He further said the dust usually forms in the month of March and April but it happened in February as well.
Meanwhile, parts of the Valley including Gulmarg received fresh snowfall while rains lashed plains in the last 24 hours.
The weather has improved and is likely to stay mainly dry for next 24 hours even though there are chances of scattered rains and snow at isolated places, a meteorological department official said, as per news agency GNS
He said Srinagar received 0.8mm of rain during the 24 hours till 0830 hours today, Qazigund 27.6mm, Kokernag 22.2mm while Pahalgam had 7.4cms of snow, Kupwara 32cm( over 1-ft) and Gulmarg 33 cms(over 1.1-ft). Rains also lashed Jammu region with Jammu city receiving 1.1mm, Banihal 49.1mm, Batote 27.3mm, Katra 3.1mm, Bhaderwah 31.4mm during the time, he said.
Meanwhile, he said, Srinagar recorded a low of 0.7°C against 0.4°C on the previous night. Today’s minimum temperature, he said, was above normal by 0.5°C for the summer capital.
Qazigund, he said, recorded a low of 1.8°C against minus 0.8°C on the previous night and it was 2.0°C above normal for the gateway town of Kashmir.
Pahalgam, he said, recorded a low of minus 0.3°C against minus 2.4°C on the previous night and it was 4.7°C above normal for the famous tourist resort in south Kashmir’s Anantnag district.
Kokernag recorded a low of minus 0.6°C, the same as on the previous night and it was 2.1°C above normal for the place, the officials said.
Gulmarg recorded a low of minus 4.0°C against minus 4.2°C on the previous night and it was 2.2°C above normal for the world famous skiing resort in north Kashmir’s Baramulla district, he said.
In Kupwara town, he said, the mercury settled at minus 0.5°C against 2.3°C on the previous night and it was 0.7°C above normal for the north Kashmir area.
Jammu recorded a low of 12.8°C against 9.9°C on the previous night. It was 2.7°C above normal for J&K’s winter capital, he said.
Banihal, he said, recorded a low of 2.0°C (above normal by 0.8°C), Batote 2.2°C (below normal by 0.4°C), Katra 10.6°C (2.5°C above normal) and Bhadarwah 2.1°C (1.9°C above normal).
Ladakh’s Leh and Kargil recorded a low of minus 8.0°C and minus 9.2°C respectively, the official said.
Avalanche Hits Gurez, 2 Women Rescued
Meanwhile a report from Bandipora said two women were rescued after a snow avalanche hit Manzgund area of Gurez in north Kashmir’s Bandipora district on Friday.
Reports said that two women identified as Tabassum Bano and Shahnaza Begum were collecting drinking water from a nearby tap when they came under a medium avalanche in Mazgund area of Tulail this morning.
They said that soon after the incident a rescue operation was launched by locals and after strenuous efforts both the women were rescued alive. However, no damage has been reported in the incident so far, they added.
An official said the general public is again advised to remain cautious and not to venture out in slopes, hilly areas, or avalanche-prone areas till the weather improves.
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