Srinagar, Feb 22 (GNS): Amid fresh snowfall and rains, night temperature recorded a rise in Kashmir Valley on Tuesday.
A meteorological department official here told GNS Gulmarg received about 8 cms of fresh snowfall in since overnight till 0830 hours. He said some plains and upper reaches also had a snowfall. Srinagar recorded rains and sleet. Due to overnight cloud cover, the night temperature settled above freezing point except for Gulmarg and Pahalgam.
Srinagar recorded a rise of 6 degrees Celsius with mercury settling at 3.8°C against last night’s minus 2.2°C in the summer capital of the J&K. The temperature was above 2.9°C than the normal for this time of the year in Srinagar, he said.
Qazigund, the gateway town of Kashmir, recorded a low of 2.2°C against minus 2.8°C on the previous night, he said.
Kokernag, also in south Kashmir, had a low of 2.2°C against minus 3.0°C on the previous night, the official said.
Pahalgam, the famous resort in south Kashmir, recorded a low of minus 2.4°C against minus 6.0°C last night, he said.
Gulmarg recorded a low of minus 5.0°C against minus 8.0°C on the previous night, he said.
The temperature was 1.7°C above normal for this time of the year in the famous resort in north Kashmir’s Baramulla district, he said.
Kupwara town in north Kashmir recorded a low of 2.2°C against minus 3.0°C on the previous night, the official said.
While ‘Chillai Kalan’, the 40-day long harshest period of winter ended on January 30, and 20-day long ‘Chillai Khurd’ culminated on February 19, Kashmir is presently under the grip of 10-day-long ‘Chilla Bachha’.
Jammu recorded a low of 12.8°C against 8.1°C on the previous night, the official said. The temperature was 2.2°C above normal for the J&K’s winter capital during this time of the year, he said.
Banihal recorded a low of 4.6°C, Batote 7.3°C and Bhaderwah 5.1°C, the official said.
Ladakh’s Leh recorded a low of minus 8.6°C against last night minus 13.5°C while mercury at automatic station in Kargil settled at minus 12.4°C. Drass, the second coldest place in the world after Siberia, recorded a low of minus 14.0°C against minus 21.6°C on the previous night, official said.
Weatherman has forecast widespread light to moderate rain and snow, during February 22-23.
“Widespread light to moderate rain/snow, mainly over higher reaches most likely during February 22-23 with main activity on February 22 (night) and February 23,” said the official here, adding, “It may affect highways like Jammu-Srinagar, Sinthan Top, Sadhna Top etc.” After this spell, the official said, there’s no forecast of any major rain or snow for next 10 days. (GNS)
