*Rainfall brings down temp
Gopal Sharma
JAMMU/SRINAGAR, June 5: The hail-storm and medium velocity winds hit Jammu and its adjoining areas bringing great relief to the people from the scorching heat, while rainfall at various places considerably brought down the day temperature all across the Kashmir valley and many parts of Jammu this evening.
Heavy rain amidst hail- storm hit Jammu City and its adjoining areas this afternoon. The dark thick clouds seen hovering over Jammu at around 5:30 pm, created night like scene during the day. The vehicles were plying on the roads with their head lights on.
It was followed by blowing of medium velocity winds and heavy rain and hail- storm. The rain continued for over an hour, creating water logging on the roads and lanes. It brought down the temperature in the winter capital city besides adjoining areas. The reports of rainfall have also been received from Kathua, Katra, Reasi, Udhampur, Batote, Bhaderwah, Poonch and several other areas.
At Katra Mata Vaishnodevi, chopper service was suspended at around 4 pm in view of bad weather. The operation of Gandola was also stalled. However, the battery car operation and on-foot pilgrimage continued smoothly.
Reports from Kashmir said that Srinagar and other parts of the region experienced light to moderate rain bringing down the maximum temperature to below normal all across the Kashmir valley today.
The Meteorological Centre, Srinagar forecast rain with moderate to intense showers at few places for a brief period accompanied with thunder, lightning and gusty winds during the next 24 hours.
It said that there is a possibility of light rain with thunder at a few places on June 7 and 8 while the weather will remain partially cloudy with general dry from June 9 to 15.
Leh town also experienced sharp fall in the night temperature today. The day temperature in Leh was 16.2 deg C while during night it was just 2.5 deg C on Wednesday.
Srinagar recorded the maximum temperature at 22.3 deg Celsius on Wednesday against the 32.5 deg C recorded on Tuesday and it was 5.6 deg C below normal for the summer capital of Jammu and Kashmir during this period of the season. Srinagar recorded 1.4 mm of rainfall during last 12 hours.
The minimum temperature recorded during the intervening night of Tuesday and Wednesday was also below normal of 1-4 deg C at all weather stations of Kashmir valley.
The tourists on the Boulevard Road on the banks of Dal Lake were seen wearing warm clothes amid overcast weather conditions in Srinagar.
Qazigund on Srinagar-Jammu National Highway had a maximum of 22.5 deg C and it was 4 deg C below normal while Pahalgam recorded 19.6 deg C and it was 4.3 deg C below normal for the tourist spot of Pahalgam in south Kashmir today.
Kupwara recorded the day temperature as low as 15.6 deg C and it was 12.3 deg C below normal for the border district while the picnic spot of Kokernag recorded 20.8 deg C and it was 5.6 deg C below normal on Wednesday.
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Gulmarg recorded a maximum of 11.2 deg C and it was 7.4 deg C below normal for the famous ski resort of north Kashmir on Wednesday, the MeT office said.
Temple City, Jammu recorded a maximum temperature of 41.9 deg C, 2.2 deg above normal and minimum temperature of 30.5 deg C. However, in the evening a sharp fall in the temperature was experienced.
Holy township of Katra recorded a maximum temperature of 37.4 deg C and minimum 24.5 deg, Bhaderwah town day temperature of 24.4 deg C and night temperature of 15.2 deg, Batote town maximum 28.9 deg C and minimum 17.6 while Banihal town maximum 23.5 deg C and minimum 13.4 deg C.
Meanwhile, from morning 8:30 am to 5:30 pm today, Gulmarg recorded highest rainfall of 7.4 mm, Batote 5.6 mm, Bhaderwah 2.5 mm, Kupwara 2.2 mm, Srinagar 1.4 mm and Pahalgam 1.0 mm.
During the day, heat wave gripped the Jammu and adjoining area. As compared to temperature of Tuesday, about one degree rise was experienced in the temperature on Wednesday. However, in the evening, a sharp dip in the temperature was witnessed. The weather in the Temple City was by and large pleasant during late evening hours.
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