Srinagar to experience light to heavy snowfall from Jan 5-6

Srinagar, Jan 04: Dense fog across the Kashmir Valley has caused significant disruptions, delaying flight operations at Srinagar Airport for the second consecutive day. The Meteorological Department (MeT) has issued an orange alert, forecasting heavy snowfall for the next 36 hours.
Srinagar and surrounding districts have been enveloped in thick fog, severely impacting daily activities. Reduced visibility has led to slow-moving traffic, with authorities urging motorists to exercise caution. Drivers have been advised to maintain safe distances and use headlights to prevent accidents.
Flight operations at Srinagar Airport resumed Saturday afternoon after visibility improved to 300 meters and the Runway Visual Range (RVR) exceeded 1500 meters. An airport official confirmed that four aircraft were scheduled to land, with Air India flight AI 827 from New Delhi successfully arriving at 11:30 am. Although operations are expected to continue without major disruptions, arrivals and departures are being closely monitored. Passengers have been urged to stay updated with their flight schedules.
Chief Area Manager (CAM) Kashmir, Saqib Yousuf Yatoo (IRTS), confirmed that train services were initially delayed on Saturday due to the fog but resumed smoothly later in the day. Train operations between Baramulla and Sangaldan were running without issues.
The dense fog also caused significant disruption to vehicular traffic across major highways, with long delays reported as vehicles moved slowly with headlights on. Authorities have advised caution to prevent accidents.
The Meteorological Department has warned of moderate to heavy snowfall across Jammu and Kashmir over the next 48 hours. Dr. Mukhtar Ahmad, Director of the MeT Department, confirmed that an active western disturbance would impact the region starting Saturday evening, with moderate to heavy snowfall expected. “There is a possibility of temporary disruptions in surface and air transportation, particularly on January 5,” he said.
Dr. Ahmad added that the peak activity is expected between the evening of January 4 and the morning of January 6, with snowfall predicted in higher reaches including Zojila Pass, Sadhna Pass, Razdan Pass, and Sinthan Top. Snow accumulations could range from 2 to 5 feet in these areas by January 6.
In Srinagar, weather conditions will remain partly to generally cloudy, with light to moderate snow and rain expected between January 5 and 6. Day temperatures will range between 2°C to 4°C, while night temperatures may drop to -4°C to -10°C. Winds will blow at around 1 km/h in a north-easterly direction, and relative humidity will be between 80% and 95%.
In Jammu, the weather is expected to be partly to generally cloudy, with light to moderate rain from January 5 to 6. Day temperatures will range from 13°C to 15°C, while night temperatures will vary between 6°C and 8°C. Winds will shift from a north-north-easterly to a northerly direction, with relative humidity ranging from 80% to 95%.
The Traffic Police Department has issued an advisory urging commuters to drive cautiously and plan their journeys according to the weather. Authorities have also recommended avoiding unnecessary travel during adverse weather conditions to minimize disruptions and ensure safety. Control rooms have been set up by district administrations to assist the public.
A traffic police spokesman stated that on Sunday, light motor vehicles (LMVs) and heavy motor vehicles (HMVs) would be allowed to travel on the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway (NH-44) from both directions, subject to favorable weather and road conditions. On the Srinagar-Sonamarg-Gumri road, only one-way traffic will be permitted for LMVs followed by HMVs with anti-skid chains, from Minamarg towards Srinagar, between 10:00 AM and 3:00 PM. Motorists are advised to carry anti-skid chains to ensure better grip on the slippery roads.