Srinagar, Jan 4:Amid intense cold weather conditions, the Meteorological Department (MeT) on Wednesday predicted snowfall in higher reaches and rain in plains of valley between January 8 to 10.
Director Indian Meteorological Centre Kashmir, Sonam Lotus said that they were expecting a two-day wet spell from January 8 to 10. “There are 70 percent chances of intermittent light to moderate snow in the valley,” he said.
The director said there will be mainly clear and dry weather till late afternoon of January 7 and expected further fall in minimum temp across Jammu and Kashmir.
“There will be warm days and cold nights till January 6 with moderate to dense fog over plains of Jammu,” he said.
Lotus said, from January 7 onward, there will be cloudy weather with possibility of light snow over scattered places towards night.
He said travellers, transporters should plan their journey accordingly especially over Sonamarg-Zojila-Gumri axis, Razdan pass, Sinthan pass, Sadhna pass, Mughal Road etc.
Kashmir is under the grip of the 40-day-long period of winter ‘Chillai Kalan,’ which started on Dec 21. It is followed by 20-day-long ‘Chillai Khurd’ and 10-day-long ‘Chilla Bachha.’
MeT officials said Srinagar recorded a low of minus 5.2 degrees Celsius on Tuesday night against minus 4.4 degrees Celsius the night before.
Pahalgam in Anantnag district registered a temperature of minus 9.4 degrees Celsius and was the coldest recorded place in the region.
The minimum temperature in Gulmarg, the famous ski resort in Baramulla district, recorded a temperature of minus 8.4 degrees Celsius, the officials said.
In Ladakh, Leh and Kargil districts recorded a low of minus 15.4 degrees Celsius and minus 18.7 degrees Celsius respectively, they said.
