Srinagar: Ahead of another spell of light to moderate snow under the influence of a fresh Western Disturbance (WD) predicted from Tuesday, the temperature during the day remained several degrees above normal as bright sunshine greeted people since Monday morning in Kashmir valley.
Even though there was slight improvement in the night temperature across the valley, it was still several degrees below freezing point.
A Met department spokesperson said that weather is expected to remain dry during the next 24 hours in the valley.
However, he said a fresh WD, which originated from the Arabian Sea and is approaching the region though Afghanistan and Pakistan, will hit J&K on Tuesday. “Under the influence of this WD which will gain movement on Wednesday, light to moderate snow could occur at some places in J&K for three days from February 12,” he added.
Despite improvement of about a degree in the night temperature, world famous health resort of Pahalgam, about 100 km from here in south Kashmir, was the coldest place in the valley. Against minus 10.4 degree recorded on Sunday, the night temperature in the health resort was minus 9.4 degree.
The night temperature at world famous ski resort of Gulmarg, about 55 km from here in north Kashmir, also improved marginally from Sunday and settled at minus 9 degree. “After witnessing further dip in the night temperature, the weather further improvement during the days as sun came out from behind the clouds on Monday in Gulmarg, which is famous for its ski slopes and quality of snow. Tourists, including foreigners, were out on ski slopes enjoying different activities,” a hotelier said.
The mercury during the night at Qazigund, gateway to the valley, Kupwara in north Kashmir and tourist resort of Kokernag improved and settled at minus 5.5 degree, minus 5.7 degree and minus 3.2 degree, respectively.
Meanwhile, there was still no respite for people from chilly weather conditions in Ladakh, where all water-bodies — including lakes and streams — remained frozen due to several degrees’ below freezing point temperature. The people in the newly created Union Territory (UT) of Ladakh are mostly dependent on hot water springs during winter. The border town of Kargil was the coldest place in the region at minus 22.8 degree, followed by Leh, where the mercury settled at minus 14.8 degree.
