Srinagar: World famous ski resort of Gulmarg and other upper reaches received fresh snowfall while bright sunshine greeted people in plains in Kashmir valley, including summer capital, Srinagar on Sunday.
Meanwhile, the night temperature remained below normal at most places in the valley, where another spell of rain and snow is predicted from Wednesday.
A Met department spokesperson said that light rain and snow would occur at some places during the next 24 hours in Kashmir valley. “The weather is expected to improve slightly for two days from Monday,” he said.
However, he said a fresh Western Disturbance (WD), which originated from the Arabian Sea and is approaching the region though Afghanistan and Pakistan, would hit J&K on Wednesday. “Under the influence of this WD, heavy rain and snow would occur at isolated places while light to moderate rain and snow would occur at many places in the valley,” he said.
Gulmarg, about 55 km from here in north Kashmir, received fresh snow since early this morning, resulting in further dip in the day temperature. Kongdori and Apharwat, the highest point of the cable car project in Gulmarg, also received light to moderate snowfall. “Despite snow since early this morning, the players from different parts of the country were out on ski slopes, where first ever Khelo India-winter was being held,” a hotelier told UNI over the phone.
The night temperature in the ski resort was minus 3 degree, against minus 3.6 degree recorded on Saturday. About 500 players from different parts of the country are participating in 30 events of the First ever Khelo India-winter games which commenced from Saturday at Gulmarg, where the ski slopes are covered under several feet of snow. The event is happening despite criticism from different members of society, who had sought its cancellation in view of coronavirus scare.
After witnessing slight dip in the night temperature, people woke up to a chilly Sunday morning in the summer capital, Srinagar. However, as the day progressed, sun came out from behind the clouds, resulting in improvement in the day temperature. Against minus 3.2 degree recorded on Saturday, the night temperature in Srinagar was minus 2.7 degree, which is below normal.
He said skies would be generally cloudy to very light rain during the next 24 hours in Srinagar, where maximum and minimum temperatures will be around 13 degree and 3 degree, respectively.
Skies were cloudy in world famous health resort of Pahalgam, about 100 km from here in south Kashmir, resulting in dip in the day temperature. The night temperature at the health resort improved and settled at 0.4 degree on Sunday.
However, the upper reaches in Pahalgam, including Chandanwari, received very light snowfall. Amarnath cave shine and its periphery, besides Sheshnag, Mahagung, Pisso top and Panjterni, also received light to moderate snowfall.
Other parts of the valley, including tourist resort of Kokernag and Kupwara in north Kashmir also received rain since early this morning. Qazigund, gateway to the valley, and Jawahir Tunnel on Srinagar-Jammu national highway also received light snowfall in the morning.
