| Pleasant weather in Kashmir ahead of another spell of rain, snow | | | Early Times Report
SRINAGAR, Mar 20: People continued to enjoy pleasant weather on Saturday due to bright sunshine in the summer capital, Srinagar and other parts of Kashmir valley, where a fresh spell of rain and snow is predicted from Sunday.
Barring world famous ski resort of Gulmarg, tourist resort of Pahalgam and Srinagar, the night temperatures dipped due to open skies across the valley, where the maximum temperature has been settling several degrees above normal during the last couple of days.
A Met department spokesperson told UNI that weather is expected to remain dry on Saturday in Kashmir valley. However, he said that two Western Disturbances (WDs) are expected to hit Jammu and Kashmir on Sunday and Monday.
"Under the influence of the first WD, moderate rain and snow is expected to occur at most places in Kashmir on Sunday. There is possibility of thundershowers and lightening with hail and gusty winds (30-40km per hour) at some places in the valley on Sunday," he said.
He said another WD, which originated from the Arabian Sea and is approaching the region though Afghanistan and Pakistan, will hit the region on Monday afternoon. "Under the influence of both these WDs, moderate rain and snow is expected to occur at many places on Monday and Tuesday," he said.
He said the system is most likely to cause rain and snow mainly in upper reaches of Kashmir, including Gulmarg, Sonamarg, Baramulla, Gurez, Tulali valley, Karnah sector in Kupwara, Shopain, Qazigund and Pirpanjal range in Jammu region.
After witnessing marginal improvement in the night temperature, people woke up to a sunny Saturday morning in Srinagar. Against 5.8 degree recorded on Friday, the night temperature in the city settled at 6 degree, which about 2 degree above normal. The weather remained pleasant throughout the day due to sunshine in the city, where people were seen basking in the sun in parks, balconies and open fields. The maximum temperature recorded on Friday in the city was 6 degree above normal.
Sun was playing hide and seek in Gulmarg though the maximum temperature remained above normal. Against zero degree recorded on Friday, the night temperature improved and settled at 0.5 degree, which is about 3 degree above normal. "Tourists, particularly adventure lovers, are out on ski slopes, enjoying different snow related activities," a hotelier from Gulmarg told UNI over the phone.
He said the ski resort, which is covered under several feet of snow, witnessed a huge influx of tourists this winter season after zero business during the last two years. "Most of the hotels are booked till April end in Gulmarg," he added.
World famous tourist resort of Pahalgam, about 100 km from here in south Kashmir, was the only place in the valley where the night temperature settled below freezing point, The night temperature at the resort dipped about a degree from Friday and settled at minus 0.2 degree, which is slightly below normal.
The mercury at Qazigund, gateway to the valley, Kupwara in north Kashmir and tourist resort of Kukernag dipped and settled at 4.4 degrees, 2.8 degrees and 4.3 degrees, respectively. |
|
