Night temp improves, day remains chilly: Weatherman
Srinagar: After remaining closed for a day for repairs, Jammu-Srinagar highway shall reopen for one way traffic on Saturday and traffic ply from
“Tomorrow (February 6, subject to fair weather and better road condition, only one way traffic shall be allowed from Srinagar towards Jammu including Banihal- Ramban (local traffic) on Jammu-Srinagar highway. No vehicle including fresh perishables shall be allowed in the opposite direction,” a traffic department official told GNS. the highway, the only surface link connecting Kashmir Valley with outside world, remained closed on Friday and shall remain closed for next three Fridays for repairs, officials said.
Meanwhile, Mughal road, connecting Shopian and Poonch districts, also remained closed due to the snowfall. Srinagar-Leh highway has been officially closed on the orders by Divisional Commissioner Kashmir on December 30.
Meanwhile, night temperature improved further and settled above normal on Friday due to overcast conditions in Kashmir valley though the chilly weather conditions during the day continued following ice-cold winds from snow-clad mountains.
After witnessing above normal night temperature, people in Srinagar, woke up to a chilly Friday morning due to overcast conditions, coupled with ice cold winds.
However, as the day progressed there was some improvement in the maximum temperature though ice cold winds continued. Against 0.4 degree recorded on Thursday, the night temperature improved and settled at 1 degree, which is about 2 degree above normal. Water bodies and frozen taps have started to melt due to lowering of mercury in the city, where hundreds of water motors, pipes and other water equipment, including water tanks were damaged due to sub zero temperature.
Gulmarg was the only place in the valley where the mercury dipped and settled below normal. Against minus 6.4 degree recorded on Thursday, the night temperature at the ski resort was minus 9.4 degree, which is about 2 degree below normal. “Despite chilly weather conditions due to overcast conditions and ice cold winds, tourists, including adventure lovers, were out on ski slopes enjoying different snow related activities in the ski resort,” a hotelier from Gulmarg said.
The night temperature at world famous health resort of Pahalgam, about 100 km from here in south Kashmir, dipped though settled about 3 degree above normal. Against minus 3.3 degree recorded on Thursday, the night temperature at Pahalgam was minus 3.6 degree.
The mercury at Qazigund, gateway to the valley, Kupwara in north Kashmir and tourist resort of Kukernag settled at minus 0.8 degree, 0.8 degree and minus 1.3 degree, respectively.
However, world famous ski resort of Gulmarg, about 55 km from here in north Kashmir, was the only place in the valley where the mercury dipped and settled several degrees below normal.
A Met department spokesperson said the weather will remain dry during the next three days in Kashmir valley. “The dry weather could result in dip in the minimum temperature though the maximum temperature is expected to improve,” he added. (Additional inputs from UNI)
