Srinagar, Jan 23: The Kashmir area will have widespread snowfall and rain for two days starting on Tuesday, according to the Meteorological Department, which has predicted that the bad weather will last until theJanuary 26.
In Kashmir, there is a chance of widespread light to moderate snowfall from Tuesday evening through Wednesday, according to Deputy Director MeT, Srinagar Center, Mukhtar Ahmad.
He said from January 26-27there will be partly to generally cloudy with light snow, rain at isolated places in Jammu and Kashmir.
Mukhtar said from January 28-30 there will be again western disturbances in the region and due to that they were expecting widespread snowfall, and rain.
“Overall, weather is likely to remain erratic with cloudy, intermittent light rain, snow till ending January in entire J&K,” he said.
As per the MeT advisory, people living in snowbound areas are advised to remain alert and cautious while venturing into areas which are vulnerable to snow avalanches.
Kashmir is currently under the grip of a 40-day long harshest period of winter, known locally as ‘Chillai Kalan, which started on December 21. It will end next week. Chillai Kalan will be followed by a 20-day-long ‘Chillai Khurd’ and a 10-day-long ‘ChillaBachha.
Following the cloudy weather, various parts of Kashmir on Wednesday witnessed improvement in night temperatures, Srinagar recorded minus 3.4 degrees Celsius and 9.7 °C as the maximum temperature.
Health resort Pahalgam in south Kashmir settled at minus 4.7 °C degrees and 4.0 °C maximum temperatures. Ski-resort Gulmarg recorded minus 9.6 °C minimum temperature and minus 0.4°C as the maximum temperature.
In the Ladakh region, Kargil had minus 16.6 and Leh minus 12.5 as the minimum temperature. Jammu had 6.5, Katra 5.6, Batote 0.7, Banihal 2.1 and Bhaderwah 2.4 as the minimum temperature.
J&K Disaster Management Authority (SDMA) on Monday issued a fresh snow avalanche warning in the low and higher reaches of eight districts of J&K.
JKDMA spokesman said an avalanche with a medium danger level is likely to occur above 2500 metres over Baramulla and Kupwara districts in the next 24 hours.
“While avalanche with low danger level is likely to occur above 2500 metres over Doda, Ganderbal, Kishtwar, &Ramban districts in next 24 hours,” he said.
The spokesman urged people living in these areas are advised to take precautions and avoid venturing into avalanche-prone areas.
The traffic on the Jammu-Srinagar highway was plying smoothly on Monday and due to heavy snow accumulated Srinagar-Leh road and the Mughal road have been closed to vehicular traffic.
A traffic spokesman said subject to fair weather and road clearance, LMVs Passengers, and Private Cars shall be allowed from both sides of the highway.
