Cloud cover raises temp in Jammu
Gopal Sharma
JAMMU, Jan 12: Fresh snowfall in Kashmir valley and hilly areas of Jammu region threw the normal life out of gear, disrupting flight operation at Srinagar airport and closure of Jammu-Srinagar National Highway while the minimum temperature in Jammu increased by several degrees due to cloudy weather conditions today.
Official sources said that most parts of Kashmir experienced moderate to heavy rain and snowfall today, which continued during the day and in the evening.
A MeT official said that the plains of Kashmir witnessed light to moderate snowfall, while the higher reaches of Valley, Jammu region and Ladakh experienced heavy snowfall. The weatherman has forecast widespread snowfall across the Valley till tomorrow.
The snowfall affected flight operations at the Srinagar airport as no flight landed at the airport today. The passengers had reached the airport and were waiting for long before they returned to Srinagar.
Jammu-Srinagar National Highway which remained opened for traffic during the day, was closed due to heavy snowfall at Jawahar Tunnel late this evening. An official said that around 550 oil tankers crossed towards Srinagar as Kashmir was facing the crisis and they were given preference for plying on the highway. He said that 400 civilian vehicles also crossed the Jawahar Tunnel towards Jammu today.
SSP National Highway, Jammu JS Johar said that due to heavy snowfall in Jawahar Tunnel area and slippery road conditions, the National Highway was closed at around 8 pm on Sunday. He said that one-way traffic will be allowed to ply on the highway from Jammu to Srinagar subject to weather conditions but there are very bleak chances of road clearance even tomorrow morning as there was nearly one feet snow in Jawahar Tunnel area at around 9 pm and it was still snowing.
He appealed the people to confirm the status of the road from the nearest traffic units before starting journey. Johar said the snowfall has also started in Patnitop, Batote and Bhaderwah areas and it may block Batote-Doda-Kishtwar road as well.
Meanwhile, several inches snowfall was recorded in upper reaches of Kashmir while in the plains light snowfall was witnessed. The snowfall led to drop in day temperatures across the region.
Srinagar recorded a maximum of 2.3 degree Celsius temperature and minimum of minus 1.6 degree Celsius, Pahalgam maximum of 0.9 degree C and minimum minus 4.2 degrees; Qazigund maximum of 4.0 degree Celsius and minimum of minus 3.4 deg C, Kokernag maximum of 2.6 deg C and minimum minus 4.8 deg C while Kupwara registered a maximum of 1.6 deg C and minimum minus 2.3 degree Celsius temperature.
Leh recorded maximum of 0.0 degree Celsius and minimum of minus 11.8 degree Celsius while Drass in Ladakh recorded maximum of minus 11.7 degree Celsius and minimum of minus 16.5 degree Celsius.
Meanwhile, the minimum temperature in Jammu region increased by several degrees to settle above the season’s average due to cloudy weather conditions while higher reaches experienced fresh snowfall today, the Met official said.
Jammu recorded a low of 9.3 degrees Celsius, up by 5.4 degrees from the previous night’s 3.9 degrees Celsius, the official said.
He pointed out that though the night temperature was 2.3 degrees above the season’s average, it failed to provide any respite from the prevailing cold conditions due to cloud cover.
Light snowfall was reported from the high altitude areas of Poonch, Rajouri, Doda, Kishtwar, Reasi, Udhampur and Ramban districts. The weatherman forecast rains in the plains with moderate to heavy snowfall in the upper reaches till Tuesday. He said due to heavy cloud cover, the minimum temperature marked an appreciable increase across Jammu region.
Bhaderwah town in Doda district was the coldest recorded place in the region with a low of 0.5 degrees Celsius, up from the previous night’s minus 5 degrees Celsius, the official said.
He added that Banihal town in Ramban district recorded a minimum of 1.2 degrees Celsius and Batote registered 1.6 degrees Celsius.
The minimum temperature in the holy township of Katra, marked an increase of over five notches to settle at 9.1 degrees Celsius, the official said.
It was raining in Jammu city as well since this evening and there has been considerable fall in the temperature due to fresh snowfall at the high altitude areas of the region.
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