Rains, fresh snowfall in Kashmir; dip in temperatures

Srinagar, Mar 12: Kashmir continued to experience intermittent rainfall on Wednesday, while several upper reaches, including the ski resort of Gulmarg, received another spell of fresh snowfall during the past 24 hours.

The wet weather led to a dip in temperatures across the valley. According to the Meteorological Department officials, the prevailing weather conditions are expected to persist until the weekend, with the likelihood of light to moderate rainfall and snowfall at various places over the next 36 hours. The MeT department has predicted intermittent precipitation on March 15 and 16, followed by an extended dry spell from March 17 to 21. Several higher reaches, including Gulmarg, Sonamarg, and Pahalgam, witnessed light snowfall, adding to the winter chill.

In Ladakh, the districts of Leh, Kargil, Drass, and Tangste also recorded fresh snowfall, resulting in a sharp drop in temperatures, the MeT office said.

As per rainfall data recorded in the past 24 hours, Kupwara received the highest precipitation at 11.2 mm, followed by Pahalgam (7.4 mm), Kokernag (5.0 mm), Gulmarg (5.0 mm), and Srinagar (4.8 mm). Given the ongoing wet spell, authorities have issued an advisory for travelers, tourists, and transporters, urging them to follow official traffic updates before planning journeys, particularly along the Srinagar-Jammu National Highway and other hilly routes prone to landslides and avalanches. Farmers have been advised to suspend all agricultural operations till March 18 to prevent damage to crops due to excessive moisture. Residents of higher altitudes have been warned to avoid avalanche-prone areas and steep slopes, as fresh snowfall increases the risk of landslides and snow slides.

Despite the precipitation, night temperatures remained 2 to 5°C above normal across many weather stations in Kashmir, while daytime temperatures dipped below the seasonal average. In Srinagar, the maximum temperature on Tuesday settled at 11.9°C, which was 2.8°C below normal for this time of the year. However, the minimum temperature saw a slight rise, settling at 7.4°C, which was 3.7°C above the average for mid-March. Gulmarg, the famous ski destination, remained the coldest recorded place in Kashmir, with a low of minus 1.2°C—though still 2.1°C above normal for this time of year. Pahalgam, another major tourist destination, recorded a night temperature of 2.7°C, while Kokernag settled at 5.2°C.