After prolonged wet spell, sun shines over J&K

Srinagar, Mar 3: After days of rain and snowfall, the sun finally broke through the clouds in Jammu and Kashmir on Sunday, however, despite the brighter skies, night temperatures dropped in most places with Gulmarg experiencing a bone-chilling minus 10.6 degrees Celsius.

The Meteorological Department (MeT) officials here said that in the 24 hours leading up to 8:30 am on Sunday, Srinagar received 38.9 mm of rain, Qazigund 81 mm, Pahalgam 39.5 mm, Kupwara 44.5 mm precipitation including 9 cm of snowfall, Kokernag 38.1 mm, Jammu 58.3 mm, Batote 69.4 mm, Katra 74 mm, and Bhaderwah 55.4 mm.

Gulmarg received a whopping 35 cm of snowfall.

Around 300 houses were damaged partially or completely during the gusty winds accompanied by heavy rainfall in Jammu and Kashmir on Saturday while several higher reaches including Gulmarg, Sonamarg, and other places continued to receive fresh snowfall for the second straight day on Saturday.

Officials said that in Ramban, Kulgam, and Anantnag districts 300 houses were damaged in the gusty winds accompanied by heavy rainfall on Sunday.

They said that in Kulgam district 119 houses were damaged in four tehsils including 95 in tehsil DH Pora, six in Devsar, and nine each in Kulgam and Pahaloo tehsils.

In the Verinag area, 42 structures were damaged due to gusty winds while 47 were damaged in Dooru tehsil and around 15 in Qazigund tehsil.

The night temperatures across J&K also dipped.

Srinagar recorded a minimum of minus 0.6 degrees Celsius, down from the previous night's 2 degrees Celsius, below normal by 2.8 degrees Celsius for this time of year.

Qazigund recorded a minimum of 2 degrees Celsius, slightly higher than the previous night's 1.8 degrees Celsius but still 1.1 degrees Celsius above normal.

Pahalgam recorded a low of minus 2.4 degrees Celsius, down from 0.5 degrees Celsius the previous night, which was 0.1 degree Celsius below normal.

Kokernag saw a dip with a minimum of minus 1.5 degrees Celsius compared to 0.5 degrees Celsius the previous night, 2.4 degrees Celsius below normal.

Kupwara recorded a low of minus 1.3 degrees Celsius, down from 0.3 degrees Celsius the previous night, 2.3 degrees Celsius below normal.

Gulmarg, famous for its skiing slopes, recorded a bone-chilling low of minus 10.6 degrees Celsius, 6.1 degrees Celsius below normal.

However, Jammu experienced a milder night, with a minimum of 9.2 degrees Celsius, 3.1 degrees Celsius above normal for the winter capital.

Banihal recorded a low of 0.6 degrees Celsius, Batote 0.5 degrees Celsius, and Bhaderwah 1.6 degrees Celsius.

MeT WEATHER UPDATE

Over the past 24 hours, Jammu and Kashmir experienced moderate rain and snow, with heavy to very heavy rain in the plains and snow in higher reaches.

The UT also witnessed strong winds, with maximum speeds recorded at Kupwara (36 kmph), Bandipora (32 kmph), Srinagar (22 kmph), Anantnag (40 kmph), Jammu (62 kmph), Udhampur (52 kmph), and Samba (54 kmph).

Additionally, hailstorms were reported in Banihal, Batote, Baderwah, and Jammu.

The weather is expected to be partly to generally cloudy on March 3 with intermittent light rain or snow at scattered places in the afternoon and late afternoon.

There is no significant weather activity expected thereafter until March 10 with the possibility of light rain or snow at scattered places during the night of March 6 to March 7.

However, the outlook for the subsequent five days indicates the likelihood of fresh spells of rain and snow during March 12 to 14.