EARLY TIMES REPORT
SRINAGAR, Feb 12: The maximum temperature improved and settled several degrees above normal as bright sunshine greeted people in the summer capital, Srinagar, and other parts of Kashmir valley, where early bud break in flower plants is being witnessed due to improvement in weather conditions.
Meanwhile, reacting to early spring-like weather, former chief minister and National Conference (NC) vice president Omar Abdullah said 'one moment we have the most severe winter in 30+ years and the next we are looking at early Spring'.
A Met department spokesperson said that weather will remain dry during the next 24 hours in Kashmir, which could result in dip in the minimum temperature though the maximum temperature is expected to remain above normal.
However, he said a fresh Western Disturbance, which originated from Arabian Sea and is approaching the region though Afghanistan and Pakistan, will hit the region on Saturday. "The pressure built by this system will not have much of an impact though very light rain and snow could occur at isolated places on Saturday and Saturday," he added.
After witnessing below normal night temperature, people woke up to a sunny Friday morning in Srinagar. Against minus 0.4 degree recorded on Thursday, the night temperature in the city dipped and settled at minus 0.6 degree, which is about a degree below normal. However, weather during the day remained pleasant even as sun shined bright in the city, where people were seen basking in the sun in parks, balconies and open fields. The maximum temperature recorded on Wednesday in the city was 6 degree above normal.
"The skies will partly cloudy to generally cloudy during the next 24 hours in Srinagar, where the maximum and minimum temperatures will be around 10 degree and minus 1 degree, respectively," he added.
People associated with Floriculture said that due to early improvement in the weather conditions, the bud breaking in flower plants has started. However, they said that the process could be adversely affected if the temperature decreases.
World famous ski resort of Gulmarg, which is covered under several feet of snow, witnessed pleasant weather as bright sunshine greeted tourists, including adventure lovers. The mercury during the night at Gulmarg, which is known for its ski slopes and quality of snow, also improved about 2 degree from Thursday and settled at minus 2.4 degree, which is 4 degree above normal. "Tourists, particularly adventure lovers, are out on ski slopes, enjoying different snow related activities on a sunny day," a hotelier from Gulmarg told over the phone.
The night temperature at world famous tourist resort of Pahalgam, about 100 km from here in south Kashmir, dipped marginally and settled at 4.6 degree, which is slightly above normal. The weather at the health resort also turned pleasant during the day due to sunshine.
The mercury at Qazigund, gateway to the valley, Kupwara in north Kashmir and tourist resort of Kukernag settled at minus 3 degree, minus 2.3 degree and minus 1.1 degree, respectively. |
