Dense fog grips Kashmir

Srinagar, Jan 3: Dense fog blanketed large parts of Kashmir on Friday, delaying the incoming flights at the Srinagar International Airport as visibility plummeted to around 300 meters even as the Meteorological Department predicted a spell of snowfall from Saturday late afternoon.

“Some flights were delayed due to foggy conditions on Friday morning,” Director Srinagar International Airport Javed Anjum told Greater Kashmir. “Later, after improvement in visibility, all flights came.”

The fog also caused difficulty for commuters, with vehicles moving cautiously due to reduced visibility on roads.

The Meteorological Department (MeT) has predicted a spell of snowfall from late Saturday.

MeT officials said that a moderate to strong Western Disturbance is expected to impact J&K starting Saturday, bringing light to moderate snowfall across most areas.

The peak activity is likely from Saturday night through Monday morning.

Officials said that snowfall, in the range of 64.5 mm to 115.5 mm, is likely to occur over Jammu and Kashmir on Sunday (January 5).

Given these projections, a yellow alert has been issued over the region that day to urge people to “be updated” about the inclement weather.

For the higher reaches of Kashmir, a red alert has been issued as heavy to very heavy snowfall is expected over most places of higher reaches from Saturday evening to January 6.

Kashmir Weather Forecast predicted heavy to very heavy snowfall at Zojila Pass, Sadhna Pass, Razdan Pass, Sinthan Top, Peer Ki Gali, higher reaches of Shopian, Kulgam, Anantnag, Pulwama, Ganderbal, and Kupwara with the snowfall accumulations predicted to range between 2 feet to 5 feet between and January 5 and 6.

According to the forecast, the main tourist spots like Gulmarg, Sonamarg, Pahalgam, Doodhpatri and Aharbal can receive fresh snowfall of around 1 foot to 3 feet during this period.

To tackle potential disruptions caused by the forecasted snow, the J&K administration has put in place contingency measures.

Authorities deployed snow-clearing machinery at key locations, particularly along major roads and highways.

Teams have been instructed to remain on standby to ensure the smooth movement of essential supplies and emergency services.

The Public Works Department (PWD) and municipal corporations have been directed to keep de-icing materials ready to prevent slippery conditions on roads.

Additionally, the Power Development Department (PDD) officials have been tasked with ensuring quick restoration of electricity in case of outages, a common occurrence during heavy snowfall.

Special arrangements have been made to keep hospitals operational, with generators and backup heating systems in place.

The night-time temperatures, which slipped several notches below normal last night, are expected to remain unchanged for the next 24 hours and then gradually increase in parts of Kashmir around the end of the week.

Gulmarg skiing destination in Baramulla recorded a minimum temperature of minus 4.5 degrees Celsius, up from the previous night’s minus 8.6 degrees Celsius.

Pahalgam tourist destination registered minus 4.6 degrees Celsius.

Srinagar’s minimum temperature rose slightly to minus 2.2 degrees Celsius from minus 2.6 degrees Celsius.

Qazigund logged minus 7.3 degrees Celsius, emerging as the coldest spot in Kashmir.

Kupwara recorded a low of minus 1.6 degrees Celsius while Kokernag settled at minus 5.5 degrees Celsius.

Kashmir remains under the grip of Chillai Kalan, the harshest 40-day winter period that began on December 21.

Known for its biting cold and frequent snowfall, this phase significantly impacts daily life in the region.

Foggy conditions prevail in Jammu

Cloudy weather with dense fog and intensifying chill continued to prevail across the Jammu plains on Friday.

“Chill, intensified by an overcast sky and foggy conditions, is likely to be punctuated by a brief wet spell induced by Western Disturbances from January 5,” Chief Scientist and In-charge Agrometeorology, Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Science and Technology, Jammu (SKUAST-J) Mahender Singh told Greater Kashmir.

For the past few days, an intense cold wave has been sweeping across Jammu plains with reduced visibility during morning and evening hours on account of dense fog contributing to plummeting temperatures.

On January 2, Jammu recorded 14 degrees Celsius maximum temperature, lower than several of its hilly sub-regions including Bhaderwah, Banihal, Rajouri, Poonch, and Katra.

For the past several days, the maximum temperature in Jammu has continued to hover between 13 to 16 degrees Celsius.