Srinagar: The Weather Department on Friday issued an advisory of widespread moderate to heavy rainfall with thundershowers and lightning until July 9, stating that there would be a sharp decrease in daytime temperatures, an increase in water levels in water-bodies and disruption of traffic at major mountainous highways.
Director MeT office, Sonam Lotus said that the monsoon winds and western disturbance are likely to cause the main activity on July 8 and 9. The advisory has been shared with the Divisional Commissioner Kashmir and the media.
“Parts of the both divisions of Jammu and Kashmir will receive heavy rains during the period and decrease thereafter gradually,” the advisory reads.
The department also warned of the potential impact of the weather on the ongoing Hindu Holy Amarnath Pilgrimage.
“There could be a sharp rise in water levels of rivers and local Nallahs, leading to flash floods, water logging, landslides, shooting stones and mudslides at vulnerable places. This could also cause disruption of surface transportation mainly on Jammu-Srinagar Highway, Zojila Pass, and other major mountainous thoroughfares,” it said.
The advisory also cautioned that there could be sharp Dip in day temperature. Earlier in the day, the weather department forecasted rains and thunderstorm but ruled out possibility of major rainfall.
Reportedly, the minimum night temperature in Srinagar was 16.8°C against 17.8°C on the previous night and below-normal by 0.9°C.
Qazigund recorded a low of 15.6°C against 16.0°C on the previous night and it was 0.5°C below normal for the gateway town of the Kashmir Valley.
Pahalgam, he said, recorded a low of 10.1°C against 12.8°C on the previous night and it was below normal by 1.7°C for the famous tourist resort in south Kashmir’s Anantnag district.
Kupwara town, he said, the mercury settled at 15.3°C against 15.6°C on the previous night and it was below normal by 0.8°C for the north Kashmir area.
Kokernag recorded a low of 14.7°C against 15.6°C on the previous night and it was 1.0°C below normal for the place, the officials said.
Gulmarg recorded a low of 10.2°C against 10.8°C on previous night and it was 1.6°C below normal for the world famous skiing resort in north Kashmir’s Baramulla district, he said.
Jammu recorded a low of 24.3°C against 24.5°C on the previous night, below-normal by 1.4°C and Katra logged 21.5°C(below normal by 0.6°C).
Pir Panchal’s Banihal recorded a low of 17.9°C (0.8°C above normal), Batote 18.5°C (0.8°C above normal), and Chenab valley’s Bhaderwah logged 15.8°C, below normal by 0.7°C.
Ladakh’s Leh and Kargil recorded a low of 7.8°C and 13.4°C respectively.
(GNS)