| Gulmarg, upper reaches get fresh snow; sunshine in plains | | |
Srinagar, Jan 4
World famous ski resort of Gulmarg and other upper reaches received fresh snowfall while sunshine greeted people in the plains in Kashmir valley, including summer capital, Srinagar, though ice cold winds continued.
The night temperature settled above normal at majority of the places in the valley, where there is prediction of wet weather during the next 24 hours.
A Met department spokesperson told UNI that light snowfall would occur at some places during the next 24 hours in Kashmir valley under the influence of Western Disturbance (WD), which is active in the region. ''Another WD, which originated from the Arabian Sea and is approaching the region through Afghanistan and Pakistan, will hit the region on Monday,'' he said, adding under the influence of this system light to moderate snow would occur at some places in the valley.
Gulmarg, about 55 km from here in north Kashmir, received over 9 inches of fresh snow, resulting in further dip in the day temperature. Kongdori and Apharwat, the highest point of the cable car project in Gulmarg, also received moderate to heavy snowfall. The night temperature in the ski resort improved about 2 degree from Friday and settled at minus 6.5 degree. ''Despite snow since early this morning, the tourists are out on ski slopes, which are already covered under several feet of snow, enjoying different activities,'' a hotelier told UNI over the phone.
He said with the snowfall, people associated with tourism are expecting more tourists to come to Gulmarg, which is famous for its ski slopes and the quality of snow.
World famous health resort of Pahalgam, about 100 km from here in south Kashmir, received very light snowfall in the wee hours on Saturday, resulting in dip in the day temperature. But, the night temperature at the health resort improved and settled above normal on Thursday due to overcast conditions. Against minus 10 degree recorded on Friday, the night temperature in Pahalgam was minus 2.5 degree.
The upper reaches in Pahalgam, including Chandanwari, received very light snowfall. Amarnath cave shine and its periphery, besides Sheshnag, Mahagung, Pisso top and Panjterni, also received light to moderate snowfall.
After witnessing major improvement in the night temperature, people woke up to a chilly Saturday morning in the summer capital, Srinagar. However, as the day progressed sun came out from behind the clouds though ice cold winds continued. The mercury in Srinagar improved over 3 degree from Friday and settled at minus 0.1 degree, which is about 2 degree above normal.
Many other parts of north Kashmir also received fresh snowfall. Sadna Top received about 1.5 feet of fresh snow while Z-gali recorded 1 foot of fresh snow since last night.
Traffic on Srinagar-Jammu national highway remained suspended for the fourth successive day on Saturday due to fresh snowfall at Jawahir Tunnel and landslides since last night.
The night temperature at Qazigund, gateway to the valley, Kupwara in north Kashmir and tourist resort of Kokernag witnessed major improvement and settled at minus 0.6 degree, minus 0.8 degree and minus 2.1 degree respectively.
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