Srinagar, Apr 14: The officials at Meteorological Department (MeT) on Friday said that they were expecting cloudy weather with intermittent light rain, thunderstorm and lightning at scattered to fairly widespread places of Kashmir from Sunday onward.
Director, Meteorological Centre Kashmir, Muktar Ahmad said that they were expecting inclement weather in the region from Sunday.
He said from April 16-17, generally cloudy weather with intermittent light rain, thunderstorm and lightning “with occasional moderate intensity rains for short period” scattered to fairly widespread places of Kashmir and a few places of Jammu division.
“From April 18-19, the weather is likely to be generally cloudy with intermittent light to moderate rain (light snow over higher reaches)/thunderstorm/lightning at fairly widespread places of Kashmir division and few places of Jammu division,” Deputy Director said.
He further said from April 20-21st, generally cloudy weather with intermittent light rain, thunderstorms and lightning was expected at a few places. Similarly from 22-26, the weather is likely to be mainly dry, Mukhtar said.
The MeT has also issued advisory to farmers and urged them not to Spray their Orchards till from 15th April onward. There will be a fall in day temperature by 4-6°C during 17th to 19th April.
The day temperature has climbed above normal substantially as the weather continues to improve in Jammu and Kashmir with fair weather prediction by MeT for Saturday.
Srinagar recorded a low of 9.0°C and maximum temperature of 28.2°C and Jammu city maximum temperature of 37. °C respectively.
Pahalgam, recorded a low of 3.6°C against 3.2°C on the previous night and Gulmarg recorded a low of 5.4°C and it was 3.9°C above normal for the world famous skiing resort in north Kashmir’s Baramulla district, he said.
In Kupwara town mercury settled at 5.6°C and Jammu recorded a low of 20.3°C against 18.8°C on the previous night. It was 1.1°C above normal for J&K’s winter capital.
The MeT said that the month of March witnessed a large deficit of rainfall in many districts of Kashmir Division (average deficit was 69%) and also in many districts of Jammu Division, where average departure below normal was 44%.
A traffic police spokesman said that during the past 24 hours, Jammu Srinagar National Highway remained blocked due to C-N Tunnel closed for 02 hours 32 mins and NAVYUG Tunnel closed for 02 hours by Tunnel authorities, making the total blockage of 04 hours 32 mins.
“There was slow movement on NH-44 due to breakdown of 05 HMVs and movement of 05 nomadic deras between Nashri and NAVYUG Tunnel,” he said.
Regarding Saturday’s traffic plans on Srinagar,-Jammu highway, the spokesman said LMVs Passenger and private cars 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.
“While as HMVs shall be allowed from Jakhani (Udhampur) towards Srinagar after assessing the road and traffic situation on NH-44. TCU Udhampur shall liaise with TCU Ramban before releasing the HMVs,” reads the advisory.
On Srinagar-Leh highway, only one way traffic from Kargil towards Srinagar* shall be allowed on Srinagar-Sonamarg-Gumari road. These vehicles shall be allowed from Minamarg, LMVs at 0630 hrs. to 0830 hrs. followed by HMVs upto 1030 hrs. No vehicle shall be allowed after cut off timing.
