Early Times Report
SRINAGAR, Feb 28: World famous ski resort of Gulmarg and other upper reaches received fresh snowfall while rain lashed plains in Kashmir valley on Friday, resulting in chilly weather conditions. However, the night temperature improved further and settled several degrees above normal across the valley, where there is prediction of wet weather during the next 24 hours.
A Met department spokesperson told that light to heavy snowfall would occur at isolated places while widespread light to moderate rain and thundershowers would occur in plains during the next 24 hours in the valley under the influence of a Western Disturbance (WD), which is active in the region.
Gulmarg, about 55 km from here in north Kashmir, received over two inches of fresh snow since early this morning, resulting in further dip in the day temperature. Kongdori and Apharwat, the highest point of the cable car project in Gulmarg, also received light to moderate snowfall. “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 .
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. After witnessing over 4 degree above normal night temperature, people woke up to a chilly Friday morning in the summer capital, Srinagar. The weather remained chilly throughout day, as intermittent rain continued in the city, where people could be seen wearing jackets, sweaters and pheran (traditional Kashmiri cloak), to evade chilly weather conditions. The Met spokesperson told that light to moderate rain or snow would occur during the next 24 hours in Srinagar. World famous health resort of Pahalgam, about 100 km from here in south Kashmir, received rain since wee hours on Friday, resulting in dip in the day temperature. But, the night temperature at the health resort improved and settled about 5 degree above normal due to overcast conditions. Against minus 0.8 degree recorded on Thursday, the night temperature in the health resort was 1.8 degree. However, 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. Other parts of the valley, including tourist resort of Kokernag, Kupwara in north Kashmir and Qazigund, gateway to the valley also received rain since early this morning. |
