After a day of widespread snowfall, rain and gusty winds, weather conditions improved across Kashmir on Saturday, even as night temperatures continued to remain below freezing throughout the Valley, officials said.
Most parts of Kashmir witnessed moderate to heavy snowfall over the past 24 hours, particularly in higher reaches, while the plains received light to moderate snow. Srinagar experienced the season’s first snowfall, though it remained light. Intermittent snowfall and rain continued in some upper areas till late Friday night.
Officials said the weather showed signs of improvement from Saturday morning. However, the Meteorological Department has forecast light rain and snowfall at isolated places on Saturday and Sunday. Another western disturbance is expected to affect Jammu and Kashmir from Monday night to Tuesday forenoon, bringing light to moderate rain and snow at most places, with the possibility of heavy spells accompanied by thunder and gusty winds at a few locations. Thereafter, the weather is likely to remain mainly dry but partly cloudy till February 3.
Cold conditions persisted across the Valley, with Srinagar recording a minimum temperature of minus 1.4 degrees Celsius on Friday night. Gulmarg in north Kashmir’s Baramulla district was the coldest place in the Union Territory at minus 12.0 degrees Celsius, followed by Sonamarg in Ganderbal district at minus 10.5 degrees Celsius. Pahalgam recorded a low of minus 7.6 degrees Celsius.
Qazigund, the gateway town of the Valley, registered a minimum temperature of minus 4.2 degrees Celsius, while Kokernag and Kupwara recorded lows of minus 6.2 degrees Celsius and minus 4.0 degrees Celsius, respectively.
Meanwhile, flight operations at Srinagar airport, which had been suspended due to heavy snowfall, resumed after the runway was cleared.
Kashmir is currently experiencing ‘Chilla-i-Kalan’, the harshest 40-day winter period marked by intense cold and frequent snowfall. The period, which began on December 21, will conclude on January 30.
