Early Times Report
Srinagar, Feb 18: People continued to enjoy sunny weather in the summer capital, Srinagar and other parts of Kashmir valley, where a fresh spell of snow and rain is predicted from Wednesday onwards under the influence of a Western Disturbance (WD). Meanwhile, the night temperature remained below freezing point though it was above normal across Kashmir valley while there was no respite from chilly weather conditions in the border town of Kargil and Leh in the newly created Union Territory of Ladakh. A Met department spokesperson told that the weather will remain dry during the next 24 hours in Kashmir valley. However, he said a fresh WD, which originated from the Arabian Sea and is approaching the region through Afghanistan and Pakistan, will hit the region on Wednesday. "Under the influence of this WD, light rain and snow could occur at some places in the valley for two days from Wednesday," he said. He said the weather will again turn dry from Friday onwards. Border town of Kargil was the coldest in the region at minus 13.4 degree, followed by Leh, where the mercury settled at minus 11.1 degree. After witnessing a marginal dip in the night temperature, people woke up to a chilly Tuesday morning. However, as the day progressed, bright sunshine greeted people in Srinagar city, where the maximum temperature settled several degrees above normal. Against minus 1.2 degree recorded on Monday, the night temperature was minus 1.4 degree, slightly below normal. The spokesperson said skies will be generally cloudy with light rain and snow during the next 24 hours in Srinagar, where the maximum and minimum temperatures will be around 10 degree and minus 1 degree, respectively.
World famous heath resort of Pahalgam, about 100 km from here in south Kashmir, was the coldest in Kashmir as the mercury dipped slightly and settled at minus 5.8 degree. But the weather during the day was pleasant as bright sunshine greeted tourists in the health resort, where open field and gardens are still covered under several feet of snow.
The mercury at world famous ski resort of Gulmarg dipped and settled at minus 4 degree, against minus 3.4 degree recorded on Monday.
The night temperature in Qazigund, the gateway to the valley, Kupwara in north Kashmir and Kokernag settled at minus 0.9 degree, minus 3 degree and minus 1.1 degree. |
