Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, Jan 5: Kashmir valley was lashed by rains and wintery mix while hills had fresh snowfall including the ski resort of Gulmarg where around six inches of snow had accumulated this evening.
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It was overcast in the morning and started raining heavily in the afternoon in the plains of the Valley. The day temperature in Srinagar dropped to 1.5 degree Celsius. This was followed by wintery mix and light snowfall in Srinagar and other parts of the Valley.
The hills of Kashmir including Gulmarg received snowfall since morning and over six inches of snow had accumulated at the Ski resort. It was also snowing in Pahalgam and Sonamarg tourist resorts.
The Weatherman had forecast a major snowfall since last night as an active Western Disturbance (WD) affected the region since last night.
The Meteorological Department said that under the influence of the WD, a moderate to heavy snowfall is expected for the next 12 hours over most parts of Jammu and Kashmir while moderate rainfall is expected over plains of Jammu during the same period.
“There is a possibility of heavy snow over middle and higher reaches of Kashmir till tonight or tomorrow morning,” the MeT forecast read. It further read that the weather conditions would improve from January 6th afternoon.
The weather would remain generally cloudy with possibility of dry weather from January 7 to 10 while from January 11 and 12, there is a possibility of light snow at isolated to scattered places. The weather would remain generally dry from January 13-15.
The night temperature in the Valley dipped sharply, with Kokernag town freezing at minus 8.1 degrees Celsius.
In Srinagar, the mercury settled at a low of minus 2.5 degrees Celsius.
Gulmarg recorded a low of minus 4 degrees Celsius. Pahalgam registered a minimum temperature of minus 3.2 degrees Celsius.
Qazigund recorded a minimum temperature of minus 3.6 degrees Celsius while Konibal in Pampore town recorded a low of minus 3.5 degrees.
Kupwara registered a night temperature of minus 2.8 degrees Celsius while Kokernag recorded a low of minus 8.1 degrees and was the coldest place on record in the Valley.
Kashmir is currently under the grip of ‘Chillai-Kalan’ – the harshest period of winter – that began on December 21. During the 40 days of ‘Chillai-Kalan’, the chances of snowfall are the highest and the temperature drops considerably.
‘Chillai-Kalan’ ends on January 29. It is followed by a 20-day ‘Chillai-Khurd (small cold)’ and a 10-day ‘Chillai-Bacha (baby cold)’.
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