SRINAGAR – While weather improved after two days of wet spell in Jammu and Kashmir as well as Ladakh on Thursday, a fresh spell of “heavy to very heavy” rain and snow spell has been forecast from January 7 evening.
According to the meteorological department here, the weather system was likely to affect surface and air transportation on the weekend.
“As expected, weather improved significantly in J&K and Ladakh,” an official of meteorological department said.
“Another spell of intense precipitation (heavy to very heavy) rain and snow is most likely during January 7(evening/night) to January 8th,” he said, adding, “There would be gradual improvement from 9th onwards in J&K.”
Regarding the probable impacts, he said, the weather system may affect surface and air transportation on January 8th.
“It may cause avalanches/landslides in vulnerable spots.” He urged people not to venture in avalanche prone areas given the fact that data shows most avalanches are triggered during intense heavy snowfall.
He also urged people to follow traffic advisory seriously and maintain proper ventilation in their rooms.
Meanwhile, the official here said that Srinagar recorded rain and snowfall of 12.9mm in last 24 hours till 0830 hours today. However there was no accumulation on ground.
The summer capital of J&K, he said, recorded a low of 0.3°C against previous night’s 0.8°C. It was 2.2°C above normal for this time of the year in Srinagar, he said.
Kashmir is presently under the grip of 40-day long harshest period of winter, known locally as ‘Chillai Kalan, which started from December 21. It is followed by a 20-day long ‘Chillai Khurd’ and a 10-day-long ‘Chilla Bachha’.
Gulmarg, which had nearly 3ft of fresh snowfall in last couple of days, recorded a low of minus 3.4°C against minus 4.0°C on the previous night at the world famous resort, he said.
Qazigund, the gateway town of Kashmir, had 18-cm of snow in the last 24 hours till 0830 hours while it recorded a low of 0.4°C against 0.8°C on the previous night, he said.
Pahalgam, the famous resort in south Kashmir which had around 1-ft of fresh snowfall, recorded a low of minus 0.8°C against minus 0.4°C on previous night, he said.
Kokernag, also in south Kashmir, had 11cm of snow during the last 24 hours even as it recorded a low of minus 0.7°C against 0.4°C on previous night, the official said.
Kupwara town in north Kashmir, having snow depth of around 8 inches of snowfall, recorded a minimum of 0.0°C, same as on the previous night, the official said.
Reports reaching here said that Bandipora-Gurez road remained closed with over 2.0ft of snow at Razdan top, 2ft at Tulail and 1.5ft at Dawar.
Machil, Karna and Keran roads in Kupwara district also remained closed as higher reaches of north Kashmir district received 2-4ft of snow.
Jammu, having 48mm of rainfall in 24 hours till 0830 hours, recorded a low of 10.3°C, down by 1.3°C from the previous night and normal of 7.3°C for the J&K’s winter capital during this time of the year, he said.
He said Banihal had 12cm of snowfall, Batote 0.6cm and Bhaderwah 3cm during the time.
Ladakh’s Leh recorded a low of minus 7.6°C against last night’s minus 7.3°C while Kargil station recorded a minimum of minus 7.6°C, the official said.
