Srinagar: Ahead of prediction of fresh spell of rain and snow from Thursday, people continued to enjoy summer-like weather on Wednesday due to bright sunshine while the night temperature settled above normal at most places in Kashmir valley.
There was slight respite for people from chilly weather conditions in Ladakh, where 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 towns of Leh and Kargil were the coldest places in the region after the mercury dipped in both the places and settled at minus 12.4 degree.
A Met department spokesperson said that weather will mainly remain dry during the next 24 hours in Kashmir 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 Thursday, resulting in wet weather.
“A weather warning has been issued for Friday and Saturday during which heavy rain and snow would occur at isolated places and light to moderate rain and snow at most places under the influence of this WD in the valley,” he added.
People woke up to a chilly Wednesday morning in the summer capital, Srinagar after witnessing below normal minimum temperature. However, as the day progressed sun came out from behind the clouds, resulting in major improvement in the day temperature though icy winds continued. Against 0.3 degree recorded on Tuesday, the night temperature in the city settled at 0.2 degree.
World famous ski resort of Gulmarg, about 55 km from here in north Kashmir, was the coldest place in the valley after mercury settled at minus 5.6 degree, which is still a degree above normal.
The mercury at world famous health resort of Pahalgam, about 100 km from here in south Kashmir, dipped and settled at minus 4.7 degree, against minus 3.4 degree recorded on Tuesday.
The night temperature during the night at Qazigund, gateway to the valley, Kupwara in north Kashmir and tourist resort of Kokernag settled at zero degree, minus 1.6 degree and 1.6 degree, respectively.
