Srinagar: Kashmir Valley received light snowfall even as the minimum temperature recorded an increase on Friday with the MeT department predicting wet weather over middle and higher reaches from January 23-25.
As per reports, Srinagar received 0.5 cm of snowfall, Qazigund 11 cm, Pahalgam 8.7 cm, Kokernag 16 cm, Kupwara 2.5 cm, Gulmarg 10 cm, Banihal 2.5 cm, and Batote 2 cm.
He said Jammu had 1.2mm of rainfall, Katra 1.0mm, Bhaderwah 7.8mm, and Kathua 3.8mm during the time.
Regarding temperature, he said, Srinagar recorded a low of minus 0.1°C against last night's minus 1.4°C. Today’s minimum temperature, he said, was 2.0°C above normal for the summer capital, he said.
Qazigund, he said, recorded a low of minus 0.6°C against minus 3.4°C on the previous night and it was 2.7°C above normal for the gateway town of Kashmir.
Pahalgam, he said, recorded a low of minus 2.9°C against minus 4.3°C on the previous night and it was 4.3°C above normal for the famous tourist resort in south Kashmir’s Anantnag district.
Kokernag recorded a low of minus 1.4°C against minus 4.3°C on the previous night and it was 2.5°C above normal for the place, the officials said.
Gulmarg recorded a low of minus 7.6°C, the same as on the previous night and it was 0.1°C above normal for the world-famous skiing resort in north Kashmir’s Baramulla district, he said.
In Kupwara, he said, the mercury settled at minus 1.5°C against minus 2.4°C on the previous night and it was 1.6°C above normal.
Jammu recorded a low of 8.7°C against 7.9°C on the previous night. It was 1.6°C above normal for J&K’s winter capital, he said.
Banihal recorded a low of 0.2°C (above normal by 0.4°C), Batote minus 1.2°C (below normal by 3.0°C), Katra 7.2°C (1.0°C above normal), and Bhadarwah 1.6°C (2.5°C above normal).
Ladakh’s Leh and Kargil recorded a low of minus 14.2°C and minus 13.8°C respectively, the official said.
Till January 22, he said, generally cloudy weather with chances of light to moderate snow and rain is expected over scattered to fairly widespread places.
“From January 23-25, there is the possibility of widespread moderate snow (rain in Jammu) in plains and heavy snow over middle and higher reaches (60% chance),” he said, adding, on January 26, there are chances of rain in Jammu region and Cloudy in Kashmir( 60% chance).”
The MeT official also urged people living in snowbound areas to remain alert and cautious while venturing into places that are vulnerable to snow avalanches.
Notably, it is Chillai-Kalan, the 40-day-long harsh winter period in Kashmir that starts on December 21 which is followed by a 20-day-long period called ‘Chillai-Khurd’ (mild cold) that occurs between January 30 and February 19 and a 10-day-long period ‘Chillai-Bachha’ (baby cold) which is from February 20 to March 1.
It's been a month of chilai-Kalan, however, the valley did not receive any major snowfall.
(GNS)