Srinagar: After witnessing above normal day temperature due to sunshine, rain lashed the summer capital, Srinagar and other parts of Kashmir valley, resulting in chilly weather conditions in the evening.
However, barring Srinagar, the night temperature remained below normal across the valley, where uncertain weather continued even as people enjoyed sunshine during the day followed by rain and hailstorm in the evening almost every day during the past about a week.
A Met department spokesperson told UNI that light rain and thundershowers would occur at some places in the valley during the next 36 hours.
He said a fresh Western Disturbance (WD), which originated from the Arabian Sea and is approaching the region through Afghanistan and Pakistan, would hit the region on Wednesday. “This WD would result in another spell of wet weather for at least five days from Wednesday,” he said, adding the system will be strongest on Saturday and Sunday.
He said there is a prediction of thundershowers, lightening and hail with gusty winds (30-40 km/hour) at isolated places in the valley throughout this week.
People woke up to a sunny Tuesday morning in Srinagar, where streets and markers remained deserted for the 20th successive day due to COVID curfew that was extended for another week till May 24 to curtail the spread of the virus. However, as the day progressed clouds covered the skies in the evening followed by moderate to heavy rain, resulting in dip in the day temperature. The maximum temperature recorded in the city was slight above normal at 25.8 degree.
Light rain in the evening was also reported at world famous tourist resort of Pahalgam, about 100 km from here in south Kashmir. The maximum temperature at the resort, which also remained deserted due to COVID lockdown, settled 1.3 degree above normal at 23.2 degree.
Sun played hide and seek at world famous ski resort of Gulmarg, about 55 km from here in north Kashmir, followed by light rain the evening, resulting in dip in the day temperature. The maximum temperature at the ski resort, which remained deserted due to COVID curfew since April 29, settled at 15.8 degree, which is about a degree below normal.
Rain lashed other parts of the valley, including north, central and south Kashmir in the evening after a sunny day. The maximum temperatures at Qazigund, gateway to the valley, Kupwara and tourist resort of Kokernag settled above normal due to sunshine.
Director Horticulture Ajaz Ahmad Bhat said that hailstorm has caused heavy damage to fruit crops and vegetables in the valley, particularly in north Kashmir. “We were witnessing hailstorm and winds during this time of the season almost every year, he said, adding this year the intensity was more severe,” he said.
Mr Bhat said in some cases only ten per cent of the fruit and leaves are left on trees due to hailstorm. He said orchardists will follow the instructions issued by the department to save their orchards.
