Srinagar- Several parts of Kashmir, including Srinagar city, witnessed fresh snowfall on Saturday as the MeT department has forecast moderate top-heavy snowfall in the valley over the next 48 hours.
While it started snowing early in the morning in the higher reaches of Kashmir, the plains of the valley also witnessed snowfall as the day progressed, officials said.
They said the day temperatures are likely to stay between zero and three degrees Celsius at most places in Kashmir.
Sadhna Top has received a snowfall of more than 10 inches today while Gulmarg and famous ski-resort recorded four inches of fresh snowfall today.
In Gurez, 4-6 inches of fresh snowfall were recorded today while some other parts including Zojila, Sonamarg, and adjoining areas also recorded several inches of snowfall. More than half a foot of fresh snowfall was recorded at Razdan Pass.
Authorities have issued avalanche warnings in hilly and mountainous areas.
Meanwhile, Director Meteorological department (MeT), Dr Mukhtar Ahmad, said that there is a possibility of light to moderate snow and rain at many places till 4th February evening with chances of heavy snowfall over isolated higher reaches.
“Middle and higher reaches of North, Northwestern and South Kashmir may receive 8-12 inches of snow, lower reaches and plains may receive 3-6 inches, while plains of Central Kashmir may receive rain with 1-2 inches of snow,” Director MeT had forecasted.
In Jammu division, he said, there is a possibility of light to moderate rain with thunder and lightning with light to moderate snow over higher reaches of Pirpanjal Range and Chenab Valley during the above period.
On February 05, the weather is expected to remain partly to generally cloudy with possibility of light snow over isolated higher reaches. From February 06-13, the weather is expected to remain dry, he said.
Meanwhile, there was respite from intense cold conditions last night but the minimum temperature stayed several degrees below the normal for this time of the year.
Gulmarg skiing resort in north Kashmir recorded a low of minus 10.6 degrees Celsius, up by 1.4 degrees from the previous night’s minus 12.0 degrees Celsius, the officials said.
Pahalgam tourist resort in south Kashmir, which serves as the base camp for the annual Amarnath yatra, recorded a low of minus 8.3 degrees Celsius, up from minus 11.9 degrees Celsius the previous night.
Kokernag and Qazigund towns in south Kashmir both recorded a low of minus 5.4 degrees Celsius, the officials said.
Srinagar, the summer capital of Jammu and Kashmir, recorded a low of minus 1.7 degrees Celsius.
On Friday, the mercury had nosedived across Kashmir with unofficial data suggesting that Larnoo town in south Kashmir Anantnag district had recorded minus 17.1 degrees Celsius followed by Sonamarg resort on the Srinagar-Leh highway which recorded a low of minus 15.1 degrees Celsius.
Although ‘Chilla-i-Kalan’ — the 40-day harshest winter period — ended earlier this week, the cold wave has continued in Kashmir.
The valley is currently going through a 20-day-long ‘Chilla-i-Khurd’ which shall be followed by a 10-day ‘Chilla-i-Bachha’.
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