Srinagar, Apr 30: After witnessing above normal temperature due to bright sunshine during the last about five days, weather witnessed a sudden change on Friday evening following overcast conditions and fresh rainfall in the summer capital, Srinagar and other parts of Kashmir valley.
Meanwhile, the night temperature dipped marginally though settled above normal at most places in Kashmir valley, where a brief spell of rain and thundershowers are predicted in the evening.
A Met department spokesperson said that a brief spell of rain and thundershowers would occur at some places during couple of hours in the evening in the valley. “Hailstorm is also predicted at one or two places in the valley,” he added.
After witnessing above normal night temperature, people woke up to a sunny Friday morning in Srinagar, where strict restrictions remained imposed on the movement of people following imposition of 84-hour-long ‘corona lockdown’ in seven Kashmir districts amid unabated rise in the number of COVID-19 cases in the Union Territory of J&K. However, as the day progressed, the skies turned cloudy followed by rain in the evening, much to the delight of the people, who are fasting in view of holy month of Ramadhan. The maximum temperature in the city during the last about five days settled several degrees above normal.
The spokesperson said that skies will be mainly clear to party cloudy during the next 24 hours in Srinagar, where the maximum and minimum temperatures will settle at 28 degree and 11 degree, respectively.
Rain also lashed world famous ski resort of Gulmarg, which has witnessed a considerable dip in the arrival of tourists amid unabated rise in the number of COVID-19 cases in the valley and rest of the country. The ski resort, about 55 km from here in north Kashmir, remained deserted as shops and business establishments were closed and traffic was off the roads in view of the lockdown. “All the shopkeepers, ATV drivers and pony owners were asked not to operate from Thursday evening to Monday morning in the ski resort following COVID lockdown,” a hotelier said.
However, he said tourists, who have already make bookings in the hotels, were allowed to enter the resort. “Similarly, tourists, who had to go to other resorts or to the airport, were allowed to leave,” he added. The night temperature at Gulmarg dipped slightly and settled at 6 degree, which is 2 degree above normal.
The weather was cloudy at tourist resort of Pahalgam, which also remained deserted in view of the lockdown. However, the upper reaches in Pahalgam, including Chandanwari, received very light rainfall. Amarnath cave shine and its periphery, besides Sheshnag, Mahagung, Pisso top and Panjterni, also received light to moderate rain.
Light rainfall also lashed other areas in Kashmir valley, particularly in north and central Kashmir, including Kupwara, Baramulla and Bandipora.
