Srinagar, Feb 3: The plains of Kashmir witnessed light snowfall on Saturday, while higher reaches recorded heavy snowfall for the fourth consecutive day. The Meteorological Department (MeT) predicts moderate to-heavy snowfall in the valley over the next 24 hours, officials reported.
In Srinagar, light snowfall commenced early in the morning and persisted until late evening. The Disaster and Management Department issued alerts for the higher reaches in the Valley.
Director MeT Srinagar, Dr Mukhtar Ahmad told Rising Kashmir as forecasted light snowfall occurred in plains and heavy snowfall was recorded in higher reaches.
Ski resort Gulmarg experienced 3 feet of fresh snowfall during the past 24 hours, 4 mm of rain in Srinagar, 1.5 Ft in Tangmarg, 10 cm of snowfall in Kokernag, 24 cm of snowfall in Pahalgam and Qazigund 15 cm of snowfall. Peer ki Galli also witnessed heavy snowfall and recorded more than 10-14 inches till Wednesday evening. Sinton Top, Minimarg, Sadhna Top, Zojila Pass, and Drass also received heavy snowfall.
He said on Sunday, there is possibility of light to moderate snowfall and rains at most places towards early morning till evening with chances of heavy snowfall over isolated higher reaches of South Kashmir and adjoining areas and gradual improvement thereafter.
“Middle and higher reaches of North, western and central parts may receive 7-10 inches of Snow, lower reaches and plains may receive 3-6 inches, while plains of Central Kashmir may receive rain with 1-2 inches of Snow,” he said.
Dr Mukhtar said the middle and higher reaches of South Kashmir may receive 12-15 inches of Snow, while lower reaches & plains may receive 6-9 inches.
About the forecast in Jammu, he said that plains of Jammu division may receive light to moderate rain with thunder and lightning. There is a possibility of light to moderate snow over higher reaches of Pirpanjal Range and Chenab Valley with heavy snowfall over isolated higher reaches of Doda, Kishtwar & Ramban.
“On February 5, weather will remain partly to generally cloudy with possibility of Light Snow over isolated higher reaches,” he said.
While there will be overall improvement in prevailing weather conditions from 6th-13th February and there will be generally dry weather.
Authorities have issued avalanche warnings in hilly and mountainous areas of Kashmir while motorists have been advised to drive carefully in view of slippery roads.
The Jammu and Kashmir Disaster Management Authority (JKDMA) said avalanche with medium danger level is likely to occur above 2,400 metres over districts of Bandipora, Baramulla, Ganderbal, Kupwara in Kashmir and Doda, Poonch and Ramban in Jammu region in the next 24 hours.
People living in these areas are advised to take precautions and avoid venturing out into areas prone to avalanche, JKDMA added.
Meanwhile, there was respite from intense cold conditions last night but the minimum temperature stayed several degrees below the normal for this time of the year.
Gulmarg skiing resort in north Kashmir recorded a low of minus 10.6 degrees Celsius, up by 1.4 degrees from the previous night’s minus 12.0 degrees Celsius.
Pahalgam tourist resort in south Kashmir, which serves as the base camp for the annual Amarnath yatra, recorded a low of minus 8.3 degrees Celsius, up from minus 11.9 degrees Celsius the previous night.
Kokernag and Qazigund towns in south Kashmir both recorded a low of minus 5.4 degrees Celsius, the officials said.
Srinagar, the summer capital of Jammu and Kashmir, recorded a low of minus 1.7 degrees Celsius. Although ‘Chilla-i-Kalan’ — the 40-day harshest winter period — ended earlier this week, the cold wave has continued in Kashmir.
The valley is currently going through a 20-day-long ‘Chilla-i-Khurd’ (small cold) which shall be followed by a 10-day ‘Chilla-i-Bachha’ (baby cold).
Meanwhile, vehicular movement on the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway resumed early Saturday after remaining suspended for two days following multiple landslides triggered by heavy rains and snowfall.
However, the traffic department advised commuters to follow lane discipline and drive cautiously as part of the arterial road near Sherbibi in Ramban district is single-lane and also slippery at a number of places.
The traffic on the 270-km highway, the only all-weather road linking Kashmir with the rest of the country, was suspended on Thursday morning after the road was damaged by a landslide at Kishtwar Patheri near Sherbibi, leaving hundreds of vehicles stranded on both sides.
The snowfall also left the road slippery at various places between Ramban and Banihal, while several landslides triggered by rains blocked the road at Magerkote, Panthiyal, Mehar, Cafeteria Morh and Dalwas.
A traffic department official said the strategic 434-km Srinagar-Leh National Highway and the Mughal Road connecting the twin border districts of Poonch and Rajouri in Jammu region with south Kashmir’s Shopian district are still blocked due to heavy snowfall.
“Jammu Srinagar highway is through for vehicular movement. Commuters are advised to follow lane discipline, drive cautiously, as part of the road near Sherbibi is single lane & also slippery at a number of places. However, Mughal road and SSG road are still blocked,” he said.
Director Srinagar International Airport, Javed Anjum told Rising Kashmir that the airport experienced delays in morning flights due to prevailing weather conditions. However, later flights operated normally later in the day, he said.
Similarly, Chief Area Manager (CAM) Kashmir, Saqib Yousuf Yatoo (IRTS), said that there were initial delays in the morning attributable to prevailing weather. However, he reassured that later in the day, all services between Baramulla and Banihal operated seamlessly without any deviations
