MeT predicts fresh spell of snowfall on Wednesday, Thursday
Srinagar: There was major respite from intense chilly weather conditions as minimum and maximum temperature witnessed improvement amid overnight fresh snowfall in Srinagar, and some other parts of Kashmir.
The respite came a day after ‘Chillai-kalan’, the harshest 40-day winter period in Kashmir, ended.
From Monday, 20-day-long Chilai-Khurd has commenced followed by 10-day-long Chilai Bacha before the onset of spring.
Roof, tree and vehicle tops besides plains had turned white on Monday due to fresh light snowfall as people woke up this morning in Srinagar, disrupting normal activities before the snow vanished after surge in the mercury.
Pedestrain and traffic movement were disrupted due to slippery road conditions after light snowfall. Drivers were seen moving in a very low speed as they were struggling to stop their vehicles from skidding. However, situation returned to normal after snow melted. Majority shops and business establishments also reopened very late as compared to normal days.
As the day progressed, bright sunshine greeted people in the city, resulting in major improvement in the maximum temperature.
After witnessing the coldest night in 30 years at minus 8.8 degree on Sunday, the mercury improved and settled at minus 3.1 degree, which is over 2 degree below normal. Water supply remained disrupted in majority households for the past four days as taps and water bodies, including world famous Dal Lake, remained frozen in Srinagar and outskirts.
World famous ski resort of Gulmarg, about 55 km from here in north Kashmir, was the only place in the valley where the mercury witnessed a dip. Against minus 8 degree recorded on Sunday, the night temperature dipped and settled at minus 8.2 degree, which is a degree below normal. “The weather remained cloudy in the resort, which is known for its ski slopes and the quality of snow. But, despite chilly weather conditions, tourists are out on ski slopes, enjoying different snow related activities,” a hotelier told UNI over the phone.
Border towns of Machil, Keran, Karnah and Tanghdar in north Kashmir district of Kupwara received about 2 inches of fresh snowfall while the main town recorded an inch of snowfall overnight.
The mercury at world famous health resort of Pahalgam, about 100 km from here in south Kashmir, witnessed an improvement of 6 degree from Sunday and settled at minus 6.1 degree, which is normal.
The night temperature at Qazigund, gateway to the valley, Kupwara in north Kashmir and tourist resort of Kukernag improved and settled at 7.6 degree, minus 2.9 degree and minus 9.5 degree, respectively.
Despite major improvement in the minimum temperature, water supply in most areas remained disrupted as taps remained frozen.
People were seen burning wood and using blow kerosene stove to defreeze water in taps. People said they are now using tube-well water for washing and other purpose while in some areas snow was melted.
Meanwhile, a fresh spell of snowfall is predicted from Tuesday onwards under the influence of a Western Disturbance (WD), which originated from the Arabian Sea and will hit the region during the next 24 hours.
A Met department spokesperson said the weather will remain dry during the next 24 hours in Kashmir, which could result in dip in the minimum temperature. However, he said a fresh WD is approaching the region though Afghanistan and Pakistan. “Under the influence of this WD, light snowfall could occur at isolated places in the valley on Tuesday,” he said.
He said the system will build further and could result in moderate to heavy snowfall at most places in the valley on Wednesday and Thursday.