Rains lash plains, snowfall in higher reaches

Srinagar, Nov 2: A fresh spell of rains in the plains and light snowfall over the higher reaches of Kashmir on Thursday brought down the temperatures further while the Meteorological Department (MeT) predicted more precipitation during the next 24 hours.
“Most places in the plains of Kashmir received light rains late Thursday afternoon,” the MeT officials here said. “The higher reaches received fresh snowfall.”
The fresh rains brought down temperatures across Kashmir.
The MeT officials said that a weak Western Disturbance was exerting its influence and there was a possibility of light rain and snowfall occurring at isolated locations in Jammu and Kashmir on November 3.
“Another parallel Western Disturbance is expected to impact the region commencing on the night of November 7,” they said. “However the spell won’t be heavy.”
The MeT in Srinagar had forecast rain and snow in select higher elevations for Friday.
Starting from November 7, Kashmir may experience wet weather conditions once more.
“The weather will mainly remain dry from November 4 to 6, while being fairly to generally cloudy with the possibility of light snow over isolated higher reaches from November 7 to 8,” the MeT officials said.
“From November 9 to 10, the weather would be generally cloudy with light rain or snowfall over a few higher reaches,” the MeT office said. “Overall there is no significant weather activity till November 10.”
Razdan Top in Bandipora district received fresh light snowfall late at night, while light rain showers were experienced in the lower areas.
A Kashmiri weather expert Faizan Arif said that under the influence of a very weak Western Disturbance, light rain or snow could occur in a few areas on Friday, especially in some parts of north Kashmir.
“The minimum temperature recorded on Thursday in Srinagar was 6.7 degrees Celsius, followed by Qazigund 4 degrees Celsius, Pahalgam 2.8 degrees Celsius, Kupwara 8.5 degrees Celsius, Kokernag 6.5 degrees Celsius, and Gulmarg 3.9 degrees Celsius,” the MeT office said.
Kashmir is witnessing the autumn season with cold mornings and evenings and foggy weather.
The ski resort of Gulmarg had recorded the season's first snowfall over its higher reaches on September 24.
Since then, there have been intermittent rains and snowfall over the higher reaches affecting the overall weather in the Valley.
Kashmir experienced significantly high temperatures in early September at most places of the Valley witnessed heat wave to severe heat waves.
Kashmir also witnessed a major deficiency in rainfall in August and September with Srinagar recording the lowest rainfall in 25 years in August.

OWAIS FAROOQI reports from Bandipora
The administration on Thursday closed the Bandipora-Gurez road for traffic after fresh snowfall was recorded at Razdan Top in north Kashmir’s Bandipora district.
Besides snow accumulation at the Razdan top, which triggered the road closure, the locals said that Tulail Valley was also draped in white as the snowfall continued.
Most of the hills were also getting draped under the snow as the plains including Dawar were lashed by rains, locals said.
According to officials, the road would remain closed until the weather improves.