By Majid Nabi
Srinagar- The Meteorological Department predicted sporadic light to moderate rainfall at various places in Jammu and Kashmir for the next three days, even as the higher reaches of Kashmir continued to receive snowfall for the second consecutive day, officials said on Wednesday.
“There will be a significant decrease in rainfall from Wednesday night in J&K. However, a brief spell of rain and thunderstorm accompanied by strong wind is likely towards the late afternoon or evening on April 20 to 22. Dry weather is very likely from April 23 to 29 in J&K,” Director Meteorological Department, Sonam Lotus told Kashmir Observer.
For the next 24 hours, Lotus said, widespread light rain or thunderstorms is likely to occur in J&K. However, he quickly added that there is no forecast of any major rain spell during this time.
Eid-ul-Fitr will either be celebrated either on April 21 or April 22, depending on the sighting of Shawwāl crescent.
Meanwhile, the upper reaches of the valley, including Keran and Machil, in the Kupwara district, Gurez, in the Bandipora district, and Sonamarg in the Ganderbal district, received light snowfall, officials said, adding that there are reports of snowfall in some other areas at the higher reaches of Jammu and Kashmir.
Snowfall continued on the Zojila Pass along the Srinagar-Leh national highway for the second day.
The plain areas, including Srinagar city, were lashed by overnight rains, bringing down the temperature, they said.
Regarding rainfall in last 48 hours till 8:30 am Wednesday, Lotus said Anantnag received 31mm, Kulgam 15mm, Pulwama 29mm Shopian 35mm, Qazigund 50mm, Pahalgam 63.4mm, Kokernag 37.8mm, Srinagar 22.9mm, Gulmarg 51.7mm, Banihal 66.4mm, Batote 29mm, Udhampur 15.8mm, Jammu 17.1mm, Katra 22.2mm, and Kathua 3.4mm.
Regarding temperature, he said that Srinagar recorded a low of 10.3°C against 11.0°C on the previous night and it was 2.4°C below normal for the summer capital.
Qazigund, he said, recorded a low of 9.2°C against 9.8°C on the previous night while the tourist resort of Pahalgam in South Kashmir’s Anantnag district recorded a low of 5.4°C.
Kokernag recorded a low of 8.3°C against 9.3°C on the previous night and it was 1.8°C above normal for the place, the officials said.
Gulmarg recorded a low of 2.0°C against 3.6°C on the previous night and it was 0.3°C below normal for the world famous skiing resort in north Kashmir’s Baramulla district, he said.
In Kupwara town, the mercury settled at 7.1°C against 8.6°C on the previous night and it was 0.3°C above normal for the north Kashmir area.
Jammu recorded a low of 17.4°C against 20.0°C on the previous night. It was 2.5°C below normal for J-K’s winter capital, he said.
Banihal recorded a low of 10.2°C (above normal by 1.8°C), Batote 10.1°C (below normal by 1.3°C), Katra 16.0°C (1.1°C below normal) and Bhadarwah 11.9°C (4.7°C above normal). Ladakh’s Leh and Kargil recorded a low of 1.6°C and 3.3°C respectively, he said. (With agency inputs)
Avalanche Alert In Six Districts
Earlier the Jammu and Kashmir Disaster Management Authority (JKDMA) on Tuesday issued an avalanche warning over upper reaches in the six districts of the Union Territory over the next 24 hours.
“Avalanche with low danger level is likely to occur above 3000 to 3500 metres above sea level over Doda, Kishtwar, Poonch, Ramban & Baramulla districts in next 24 hours,” JKDMA said in an advisory posted on its official Twitter handle on Wednesday.
Also, the advisory read that an avalanche with medium danger level was likely to occur above 2800 metres over Ganderbal district in the next 24 hours.
The advisory also urged people living in these areas to take precautions and avoid venturing in the avalanche prone areas till further orders.
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