WDs hit parts of North, Sgr-Leh NH closed
*JK records nearly 70% rain deficit during Nov
Fayaz Bukhari/ Gopal Sharma
SRINAGAR/ JAMMU, Nov 30: As the Western Disturbances hit many parts of northern region, fresh snowfall was experienced in several places, including the tourist resorts, in the higher reaches of Kashmir and parts of Jammu region today despite the night temperature settling above freezing point at most locations.
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A MeT official said that many places in the higher reaches of Kashmir experienced fresh snowfall under the influence of a Western Disturbance (WDs), amid the prediction of more light rain and snow during the next 24 hours.
The famous tourist resort town of Pahalgam in south Kashmir’s Anantnag district witnessed the season’s first snowfall. The other tourist destinations, including the ski resort town of Gulmarg and Sonamarg, also recorded fresh snowfall today.
Snowfall was also reported from Gurez, Zojila axis and a few other upper areas.The snowfall on the Zojila axis resulted in the closure of the Srinagar-Leh highway, they added.
An official said that Baltal Sonamarg area received 3 inches of snowfall, Zojila pass 4 inches, Minamarg 3 inches, Pahalgam one inch, Peer Ki Gali one to 1-2 inches, Sinthan top 4 inches, Razdan Top 3-4 inches, Sadhna Pass 4 inche and Z- Gali 3 inches.
Traffic officials said the traffic along Sonamarg-Kargil road is closed for vehicular movement due to fresh snowfall in Zojila area. The vehicular movement was also suspended on Gurez -Bandipora road due to the snowfall at Razdan Pass.
Higher passes including Sinthon Top, connecting Kishtwar and Anantnag; Chattergalla Pass, connecting Bhaderwah and Bani-Basohli and Peer Ki Gali on Mughal Road, connecting Poonch and Shopian districts also experienced fresh snowfall, resulting closure of these roads, the sources added.
The MeT office said the weather would remain cloudy with the possibility of light rain or snow at isolated to scattered places in the higher reaches of the Valley tomorrow. He predicted wet weather in Kashmir and many parts of Jammu till Tuesday.
On Sunday, the weather will be partly cloudy with light rain or snow at isolated places in the higher reaches.
From December 2, there are chances of light rain or snow at scattered places in the higher reaches over two days.
The weather is likely to stay generally dry during December 4 to 7, after which light rain or snow is possible at isolated places in the higher reaches on December 8, the MeT office said.
Meanwhile, the night temperature rose across Kashmir owing to overcast conditions and settled above freezing point at most places, the officials said.
Srinagar recorded a low of 1 degree Celsius, higher from the previous night’s minus one degree, they said.
Qazigund, the gateway town to the Valley in south Kashmir, recorded a low of minus 0.4 degrees Celsius.
The minimum temperature in Pahalgam, which also serves as one of the base camps for the annual Amarnath Yatra, settled at minus 1.5 degrees Celsius — the coldest in the Valley.
Gulmarg registered a low of 0.5 degrees Celsius and Kupwara minus 3.4 degrees.
The minimum temperature in Kokernag in south Kashmir settled at 3 degrees Celsius.
Meanwhile, Jammu and other major towns recorded a sharp fall in temperature today as compared to last couple of days. The city recorded a night temperature of 10.2 degrees Celsius and the day temperature of 23.5 deg Celsius on Saturday.
Tourist resort of Bhaderwah recorded a maximum temperature of 16.4 deg C and minimum 3.5 deg C; Katra town a night temperature of 11.6 and the day temp of 20.7 deg C; while Banihal town a maximum temperature of 10.4 deg and minimum 3.1 degrees C on Saturday.
Leh City recorded a lowest night temperature of minus 6.7 deg C in the region.
Meanwhile, the month of November ended with about 70 % of rainfall deficit in the UTs of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh. With a normal value of 35.3 mms only 10.9 mms of rainfall was observed in the sub-division during the month of November.
Weatherman said that Kathua district with 100% departure from normal observed 0.0 mms of rainfall against a normal of 28.0.
Samba stood out as an exception, receiving 48% more rainfall than normal, which received 12.5 mms of rainfall against the normal value of 8.1 mms following the Kupwara district with -3% departure from normal which received 48.1 mms of rainfall against the normal of 49.8 mms during the month following Poonch district with 98% rainfall deficit.
Budgam district received only 14.9 mms of rainfall against the normal value of 30.1 mms with 90% deficiency.
Srinagar and Jammu districts observed 74% and 78% respectively, less rainfall than normal during the month of November, the Weatherman added.
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