Weatherman forecasts wet spell in JK from Jan 16

Srinagar, Jan 14: Weatherman has forecast moderate to fairly widespread rains and snowfall in Jammu and Kashmir from Sunday.
“A fresh Western Disturbance is likely to affect Jammu & Kashmir region from January 16th and another Western Disturbance from January 18 and is likely to cause light/moderate scattered to fairly widespread precipitation,” a meteorological department official said.
Meanwhile, freezing cold conditions continued in Kashmir Valley and Ladakh with Srinagar, the summer capital of J&K, recording a low of minus 3.4°C.
The official said that the minimum temperature in Srinagar was down by 9 notches than previous night’s minus 2.7°C. It was minus 1.3°C below normal for this time of the year.
Kashmir is presently under the grip of 40-day long harshest period of winter, known locally as ‘Chillai Kalan, which started from December 21. It is followed by a 20-day long ‘Chillai Khurd’ and a 10-day-long ‘Chilla Bachha’.
Gulmarg recorded a low of minus 10.5°C against minus 11.0°C on the previous night, he said. The temperature was minus 2.6°C below normal for this time of the year in the famous resort in north Kashmir’s Baramulla district.
Pahalgam, the famous resort in south Kashmir, recorded a low of minus 10.3°C against minus 9.4°C last night, he said.
Qazigund, the gateway town of Kashmir, recorded a low of minus 7.8°C against minus 5.8°C on the previous night, he said.
Kokernag, also in south Kashmir, recorded a low of minus 7.5°C against minus 6.1°C on the previous night, the official said.
Kupwara town in north Kashmir recorded a minimum of minus 1.3°C against minus 2.5°C on the previous night, the official said.
Jammu recorded a low of 5.7°C against previous night’s 5.5°C which is minus 1.3°C below normal for the J&K’s winter capital during this time of the year, he said.
Banihal recorded a low of minus 2.4°C, Katra 0.6 °C and Bhaderwah saw a minimum of minus 2.4°C, the official said.
Ladakh’s Leh recorded a low of minus 13.9°C against last night’s minus 15.5°C while mercury at automatic station in Kargil settled at minus 19.9°C. Drass, the second coldest place in the world after Siberia, recorded a low of minus 23.8°C against last night’s minus 21.9°C, official said. (GNS)