Snow in upper reaches of Gulmarg, Sonamarg, rain in plains herald early winter for Valley

Srinagar, Oct 20: The higher reaches of Kashmir experienced light to moderate snowfall for the second consecutive day, while the plains received continuous rains on Thursday.
The wet spell brought the Valley temperature drastically down with Srinagar recording the maximum temperature of 7.5 °C and while its minimum temperature recorded was 6.4 degrees Celsius.
Ski-resort Gulmarg was the coldest place in Kashmir by recording 0.6 °C maximum temperature while the minimum temperature recorded here was minus 2.0 °C.
The ski-resort in north Kashmir recorded four inches of fresh snowfall, while Sonamarg recorded four inches. Pahalgam received 3-4 inches, Gurez, Tulail and Machil 5-6 inches, and 4-6 inches at few spots along the Zojila-Drass highway. Zabarwan Hills in Srinagar district also received light snowfall.
Director Indian Meteorological Centre Kashmir, Sonam Lotus told Rising Kashmir that higher reaches received light to moderate snowfall in Kashmir and later it decreased towards the afternoon.
“There has been a significant drop in day temperatures due to inclement weather in the region,” he said.
Lotus said light rain or snow may continue till night at some places, especially over higher reaches, with decreased intensity.
“From 21-30th October. There is no forecast of any major spell in Jammu and Kashmir but light snow or rains cannot be ruled out at isolated places,” he said.
Most parts of Kashmir including Srinagar city received light rain that continued till late evening.
The minimum temperatures have dropped further due to the cold wind lashing into the plains from snow-clad mountains.
Such was the intensity of cold that people in the Valley were forced to wear woolen clothes, including the thick tweed over garment locally called ‘Pheran’.
The snowfall in Gulmarg and other tourist destinations has brought exuberance among the hoteliers and others associated with the tourism industry.
Scores of tourists and locals throng Gulmarg to enjoy the season’s first snowfall and massive traffic jams were witnessed in tourist places till late Thursday evening.
According to an official of the Met office, the snowy landscape in Gulmarg and Sonamarg would stay for a day or more than that.
Health resort Pahalgam recorded 5°C and a minimum of 3.2 °C degrees. Qazigund recorded a maximum 7.8°C respectively and a minimum 7.0° C.
Kupwara in north Kashmir recorded maximum temperatures of 10.3 °C, while minimum temperatures settled at 4.1 °C respectively.
Jammu had 18.7, Katra 16.4, Batote 9.4, Banihal 8 and Bhaderwah 8.6 as the minimum temperature.