Fresh snowfall in Kashmir’s higher reaches
Srinagar, Feb 2: Several higher reaches, including popular tourist destinations Gulmarg and Pahalgam, received a fresh spell of light snowfall overnight.
Srinagar, the summer capital of Jammu and Kashmir, along with other parts of the valley, received light rain during the intervening night of Saturday and Sunday. Some areas of Jammu region also recorded light showers overnight.
According to the Meteorological Department in Srinagar, the ski resort of Gulmarg in north Kashmir’s Baramulla district received 5.1 cm of snowfall, while Pahalgam recorded 2.8 cm and Kupwara 2.5 cm during this period. Additionally, some higher catchments, including the Pir Panjal range in south Kashmir, experienced light snowfall.
The MeT department has forecast generally cloudy weather with chances of isolated light rain or snowfall and thunderstorms over Jammu and Kashmir in the next 24 hours.
“There is a likelihood of light snowfall and rain from the evening of February 3 at isolated locations. On February 4, the weather is expected to remain cloudy with possibilities of light to moderate rain or snowfall at several places across Jammu and Kashmir. Another spell of light rain or snow at scattered locations is likely during the early morning or forenoon on February 5,” the MeT department stated.
Meanwhile, night temperatures remained above normal across most weather stations, except for Gulmarg, following the snowfall. In Srinagar, the minimum temperature improved to 2.5°C, up from 0.8°C the previous night, marking an increase of 3.1°C above the normal average for this time of the year.
Gulmarg, however, saw a dip in temperature, recording a low of -7.6°C compared to -7.4°C the previous night, which is 0.2°C below the normal average for the ski resort. Similarly, Pahalgam recorded a minimum temperature of -2.6°C, dropping from -0.4°C the previous night, while Kokernag also recorded sub-zero temperatures at -0.8°C.