Srinagar, Dec 07: While sub-zero temperatures, haze, and dry weather conditions continued in Valley, the Meteorological Department has expected rain and snowfall in many parts of Kashmir from Friday onwards.
Director, MeT Sonam Lotus told Rising Kashmir that they were expecting a fresh spell of snowfall in Kashmir from Friday onward with main activity on Saturday.
“The snowfall will likely commence from Friday late night increasing gradually in intensity and spatial distribution with peak activity on the 9th of December. Plains of Kashmir likely to receive light of snowfall whereas higher will receive moderate snowfall, he said.
As per MeT data, the Srinagar witnessed the night temperature of minus 2.2 degrees Celsius, down from the season’s highest so far (minus 3.4 degrees) on Sunday night.
Pahalgam was the coldest place in the Valley at minus 3.8 degrees, while the ski resort of Gulmarg experienced a low of minus 3.5 degrees. Qazigund experienced the minimum temperature of minus 2.2 degrees, while Jammu recorded a low of 7.3°C.
He said following the snowfall, there will be a temporary disruption of traffic on passes like Sadna Top, Zojila, Sinthan Top, Mughal Road, and Ramban-Banihal axis.
The 270-kilometer Srinagar-Jammu National Highway will remain open for 2-way traffic from both sides on Thursday.
As per the traffic advisory, there will be two-way traffic on the Srinagar-Jammu highway for Thursday, “Subject to fair weather better road condition, LMVs (Passenger) shall be allowed from both sides on Jammu-Srinagar NHW viz Jammu towards Srinagar and vice-versa. TCU Jammu/Srinagar shall liaise with TCU Ramban before releasing the traffic,” it said.
Similarly on Mughal road, LMVs from both sides and HMVs (upto twelve tyres) from Srinagar towards Poonch shall be allowed on Mughal road. LMVs from Behramgalla 0800 hrs upto 1500 hrs., from Herpora 0800 hrs upto 1600 hrs & HMVs from Herpora 0900 hrs. upto 1500 hrs, the advisory said.
On the Srinagar-Leh highway, the vehicular movement shall be allowed from Srinagar towards Kargil, the official said adding that it will be followed by HMVs. No vehicle will be allowed after cut-off timings, it said.
