Night temperature drops across Kashmir

Srinagar, Feb 22:  The cold conditions returned to Kashmir as night temperatures plunged again as the ski resort of Gulmarg recorded a temperature of minus 10.4 degrees Celsius on Thursday.

The Srinagar-Jammu National Highway remained closed for vehicular traffic due to landslides that occurred at several places, even after partial restoration efforts on Wednesday.

Restoration work was going on at Kishtwari Pather on the highway, but it is expected to take some time, according to traffic officials. The Srinagar-Leh National Highway is also closed to vehicular traffic due to recent snowfall.

Additionally, roads connecting Keran and Machil in Kupwara district, Anantnag, Sinthan, and Mughal roads are closed due to snowfall, creating difficulties for travellers.

The weather is forecasted to remain dry over most parts of J&K until February 25, with sunny days expected from February 23 to 25. Another Western Disturbance is likely to hit on February 26, potentially triggering rain and snow over Jammu and Kashmir.

The Meteorological Centre in Srinagar reported that the minimum temperature in Srinagar was recorded at minus 1 degree Celsius on Thursday, 1.9 degrees Celsius below normal. The day temperature was also below normal at 3.6 degrees Celsius.

Gulmarg received 1 cm of snowfall and 1.8 mm of rain.

Qazigund recorded a low of minus 4.4 degrees Celsius, while Kokernag recorded minus 5.4 degrees Celsius.

Pahalgam settled at minus 8.6 degrees Celsius and Kupwara recorded a low of minus 3.1 degrees Celsius.

AVALANCHE WARNING

The Jammu and Kashmir Disaster Management Authority (JKDMA) issued an avalanche with a medium danger level warning and said that it was likely to occur above 2200 metres above the sea level for Bandipore, Baramulla, Ganderbal, Kupwara, Doda, Kishtwar, Poonch, and Ramban districts in the next 24 hours.