Gulmarg, other upper reaches receive fresh snowfall; rain lashes plains in Kashmir

SRINAGAR: The upper reaches, including world famous ski resort of Gulmarg and tourist resort of Sonamarg, received fresh snowfall on Monday while rain lashed plains in the summer capital, Srinagar and other parts of Kashmir.

Barring Gulmarg, the night temperature improved and settled above normal across the valley, where weather woes are expected to continue till Wednesday.

A Met department spokesperson told UNI that moderate rain, snow and thundershowers would occur during the next 48 hours in Kashmir valley, which would resulting in further dip in the maximum temperature. “During these 48 hours, heavy rain, thundershowers, snow with gusty winds (30-40 km/h) would occur at isolated place under the influence of two Western Disturbances (WDs), which are active in the region,” he said.

He said light to moderate rain and snow would occur on Wednesday, adding the weather is expected to improve from Thursday onwards. However, he said a fresh WD, which would originate from the Arabian Sea and would approach the region through Afghanistan and Pakistan, will hit the region on Saturday. “More wet weather is expected under the influence of this WD,” he added.

Much to the delight of tourists, Gulmarg, which is already covered under several feet of snow, received light to moderate snowfall since late last night, resulting in dip in the minimum and maximum temperatures. Kongdori and Apharwat, the highest point of the cable car project in Gulmarg, also received light to moderate snowfall. The ski resort was the only place in the valley where the night temperature settled below freezing point. Against 2 degree recorded on Sunday, the mercury dipped and settled at minus 0.5 degree, which is about 2 degree above normal.

“It was still snowing in the ski resort. But, despite snow, the tourists are out on ski slopes enjoying different activities,” a hotelier said over the phone.

He said the ski resort, which is about 55 km from here in north Kashmir, witnessed a huge influx of tourists this winter season after zero business during the last two years. “Most of the hotels are booked to April end in Gulmarg,” he added.

After witnessing above normal night temperature, people in Srinagar woke up to a chilly and cloudy Monday morning. Rain again lashed the city later in the morning, resulting in further dip in the day temperature. Normal life was on Monday thrown out of gear as most of the roads and lands were waterlogged due to incessant rain in Srinagar.

The maximum temperature in the city dipped below normal, forcing people to once again wear sweaters and jackets, besides use other heating gadgets to keep themselves warm. The mercury in the city remained constant at 7.4 degree since Sunday, which is 3 degree above normal.

He said moderate rain and thundershowers would occur during the next 24 hours in Srinagar, where the maximum and minimum temperatures are expected to settle at 8 degree and 6 degree, respectively.

World famous health resort of Pahalgam, about 100 km from here in south Kashmir, also received rain since early Monday morning, resulting in dip in the maximum temperature. But, the night temperature in the health resort improved about 2 degree from Sunday and settled 4.3 degree, which is about 4 degree above normal. However, the upper reaches in Pahalgam, including Chandanwari, received very light snowfall.

Tourist resort of Sonamarg on Srinagar-Leh highway recovered light to moderate snowfall since early this morning. Snowfall was also recorded in other upper reaches in north Kashmir, including border towns in Kupwara and Bandipora.