By: Owais Gul
Srinagar, Jan 24: Under the influence of fresh Western Disturbance (WD), the parts of Jammu and Kashmir including Srinagar received intermittent rainfall on Tuesday, bringing down the temperature across the valley while the weatherman here has predicted more rains and snowfall in the Union Territory for the next 24 hours.
Several Kashmir parts including Sonamarg, Anantnag areas, Shopian, Mughal Road, Kulgam, Gulmarg, Sadhna Top, Bandipora higher reaches, Pulwama, Ramban and other areas received fresh snowfall today, reports said, adding that the plains of Kashmir including Srinagar received intermittent light rainfall.
Director Meteorological department (MeT), Sonum Lotus said the rain and snow would likely intensify with main activity later tonight and tomorrow. “Heavy snowfall is very likely over the middle and higher reaches,” he said.
The MeT Director further said that the fresh wet spell would likely affect surface transportation over major passes including Jammu-Srinagar national highway. He said the snowfall would also lead to avalanches in avalanche-prone areas.
“People are advised to avoid venturing out in avalanche-prone areas during snowfall days. Travel after confirming road status from the concerned traffic department,” he advised.
As per the forecast, the weather conditions would unlikely witness improvement till January 30, which marks the end of the 40-day harshest winter period—Chillai Kalan in Kashmir.
Chila-i-Kalan is followed by a 20-day-long Chillai Khurd (small cold) that occurs between January 30 and February 18 and a 10-day-long Chillai Bachha (baby cold) which is from February 19 to February 28.
The MeT officials further informed that overall, the weather would very likely remain erratic with cloudy, intermittent light rain and snow till ending January across J&K.
The night temperature increased again in Srinagar where mercury settled at minus 2.3 degree Celsius while Gulmarg, a famous ski resort, recorded a low of minus 9.6 degrees Celsius. The mercury in Pahalgam settled at minus 8.8 degree Celsius while Qazigund recorded a low of minus 0.6 degrees Celsius.
Moreover, though the shooting stones occurred at the Panthyal area, the Srinagar-Jammu highway continued to remain open for vehicular movement today while the Srinagar-Leh highway and Mughal Road continued to remain closed since the 1st week of this month. (KNO)