Early Times Report
Srinagar, Mar 7: Even though warning issued by Meteorological department to ''be prepared, updated and keep vigil'' has ended Saturday evening, the weather woes will continue till March 13 in Jammu and Kashmir.
The upper reaches experienced fresh snowfall while plains, including Srinagar, received light to moderate rain during the past 24 hours resulting in drop in the maximum temperature.
A Meteorological department spokesman has on March 5 evening issued a warning to be ''prepared, updated and keep vigil'' during the next 48 hours. He had said there could be widespread moderate rain and snow besides thundershowers in Jammu and Kashmir and scattered light snow in Ladakh region during the next 24 hours. There will be no large change in the weather till Saturday evening.
Today, he said there was no fresh warning but widespread light to moderate rain, snow and thundershowers over Jammu and Kashmir and scattered light snow over Ladakh during the next 24 hours is predicted. However, there could be scattered, isolated, fairly widespread and widespread rain or snow till March 13 in Jammu and Kashmir regions.
Sun made a brief appearance in the valley today, much to the delight of people after light to moderate rain during the night. However, their joy was short-lived when sun again went behind the clouds resulting in chilly conditions.
World famous ski resort of Gulmarg, where first-ever Khelo India-winter games were inaugurated today by Union Minister Kiren Rajiju, was coldest at minus 3.6 degree Celsius minimum temperature after fresh snowfall during the past 24 hours.
The maximum temperature at the ski resort on Friday was 4 degree Celsius and minimum temperature minus 3.6 degree which was colder than Leh in Ladakh, where it was minus 0.4 degree.
The upper heights in north Kashmir, including the areas near the Line of Control (LoC) also received fresh snowfall during the past 24 hours. The maximum temperature at Kupwara was 10.1 degree and minimum temperature 3.5 degree. People in summer capital, Srinagar, had a brief sigh of relief when sun appeared today after minimum temperature was slightly below normal at 3.2 degree. Due to rain and snow on surrounding hills, the maximum temperature in the city on Friday was 9.3 degree, 3.8 degree below normal. The mercury will remain below normal during the next 24 hours in Srinagar, where there could be very light rain or snow and the maximum and minimum temperature would be around 12 degree and 3 degree respectively Famed health resort of Pahalgam was second coldest in the valley after the minimum temperature was minus 0.6 degree after fresh snowfall at upper reaches, including holy Amarnath cave shrine and its periphery, Panjterni, Sheshnag, Mahaguns and Pisso top on traditional yatra route. Upper heights, including historic Mughal road, also received fresh snowfall in south Kashmir. Tourist resort of Kokernag in south Kashmir recorded 6.6 degree maximum and 1.2 degree minimum temperatures during the past 24 hours.
The Met spokesman said the maximum temperature at Leh in Ladakh was 8.9 degree Celsius while the minimum temperature was minus 0.4 degree Celsius.
He said the sky would be generally cloudy and the maximum and minimum temperatures would be around 8 degree and minus 3 degree respectively in Leh during the next 24 hours. |
