Rains, snowfall break prolonged dry spell in Kashmir

Srinagar, Nov 11: After an extended dry spell, Kashmir on Monday recorded light rainfall in the plains including Srinagar, while snowfall dusted the higher reaches, providing a long-awaited relief to the people.

The precipitation has also led to a notable drop in temperatures, ending a protracted period of dry and warm conditions that saw intense heat waves earlier this summer.

The precipitation comes as a reprieve after a year marked by extreme weather in Kashmir. Unusual heat waves affected Kashmir during the summer, with temperatures soaring well beyond typical highs.

The first snowfall of the season was recorded at tourist destinations like Gulmarg, with approximately 4 inches of accumulation recorded at Phase II and a lighter dusting at Phase I.

At Sadhna Top, around 5 inches of snow has accumulated, with more snow continuing to fall.

The main Gulmarg area is now experiencing temperatures below 5 degrees Celsius, adding to the chill settling across Kashmir.

These conditions mark the first significant snowfall of the season.

Over the past months, Kashmir recorded substantial rainfall deficits, sparking concerns about water shortages for agricultural and household use.

The rainfall deficit left streams and water sources at critically low levels, impacting both farming practices and general water availability.

With this recent precipitation, locals are hopeful of a recovery in water supplies, though much more rain and snowfall will be necessary to address the full scope of the deficit.

According to the Meteorological Department (MeT), Kashmir can expect generally dry weather between November 12 and November 14, with another light spell of rain and snow anticipated from November 15 to November 16, particularly over north Kashmir and parts of central Kashmir.

Following that, dry conditions are forecast to dominate from November 17 through November 23, with no significant weather events anticipated through the month’s end.

An advisory has been issued for farmers, emphasising the need for safe storage of harvested crops to prevent damage from the weather. There is also a warning about shallow to moderate fog in the plains of Jammu and Kashmir, which is expected to be prevalent during early mornings and late evenings, potentially impacting visibility and transportation.

Tarique Raheem reports from Kupwara

As predicted by the Meteorological Department (MeT), Kupwara plains witnessed incessant rains on Monday while the upper reaches received the season’s first snowfall.

The rains poured throughout the day in the plains, resulting in severe hardships for the people while walking. Due to incessant rains, roads and markets across the district witnessed a thin presence of people.

Meanwhile, the higher reaches including Z-Gali Machil, Ferkhian Top Keran, Sadhna Top, Budnamal, Kumkadi, and Jumgund witnessed 3 to 4 inches of snow, causing slippery conditions.

As a result of this, vehicles plying on these roads faced hardships.

Talking to Greater Kashmir, Tehsildar Karnah Muhammad Amin said that a Karnah-bound Road Transport Corporation (RTC) bus was stuck at Khoni Nallah near Sadhna Top following which the Army launched a rescue operation and gave safe passage to the passenger bus.

He said that almost 4 inches of snow had been recorded at Sadhna Top, which caused slippery conditions.

Amin said that the weather was improving in the area but people needed to contact authorities before they start travelling on the Kupwara-Karnah road.

On being asked about the disruption of electricity in the entire Karnah, he said that due to overload, the transformer at the receiving station had developed some snag as a result of which people had to face disruption in electricity.

Earlier, people in the area said that they faced severe inconvenience due to disruption of electricity on Monday.