Rains in plains, upper reaches receive fresh snowfall
Srinagar: Intermittent rains were witnessed across plains in Kashmir while the world famous ski resort of Gulmarg and other upper reaches received fresh snowfall early Friday morning.
A Met department spokesman has issued a warning of isolated heavy rain, snow and thundershowers in the Kashmir valley during the next 24 hours which could impact surface traffic. Weather will improve from March Ist.
Gulmarg, where second edition of the Khelo India Winter Games was e- inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi received fresh snowfall early this morning, much to the delight of mover than 1200 athletes, officials and other guests.
There was light snowfall early Thursday also, a local said.
However, on Friday morning Gulmarg received light snowfall while in the higher reaches, including Seven Springs, Khilanmarg and Affarwat, the highest skiing point connected by Cable Car, experienced moderate snowfall.
Mechanical Engineering Department (MED) had pressed into service a machine rescue a bus from snow on Babareshi road in Gulmarg yesterday.
The Met spokesman said the mercury remained above normal in Gulmarg against yesterday’s minimum temperature of minus 0.6 at Gulmarg, it was minus 0.8 degree, still five notches above normal. The maximum temperature yesterday was 4.6 degree which was 2.5 degree above normal.
Mercury also remained above normal at famed health resort of Pahalgam, about 100 km from here in south Kashmir, where the water level in water bodies, including river Lidder passing through Pahalgam, witnessed increase due to melting of snow on upper reaches.
The maximum temperature yesterday at Pahalgam was 11.2 degree, 6.9 notches above normal while the minimum temperature today was 3.5 degree against yesterdays 3.2 degree which was 6.7 degree above normal.
Amarnath Cave shrine in south Kashmir Himalayas and its periphery, Panjterni, Mahaguns, Sheshnag, Pisso top and Chandanwari, the last motorable halting station on traditional yatra route, received light to moderate snowfall.
The summer capital, Srinagar, received light rain though sun was playing hide and seek. The mercury remained above normal in the city, where people could be seen wearing less warm cloths. Against yesterdays minimum temperature of 7.4 degree it was 8 degree, which was 6.5 notches above normal today.
The Met spokesman said there could be light to moderate rain, snow and thundershowers in Srinagar and the maximum and minimum temperatures would be around 10 degree and 4 degree respectively during the next 24 hours.
