Sajid Raina
Srinagar, Dec 19: Minimum temperatures declined at several places across Jammu and Kashmir on Friday, with Pulwama recording the lowest in the Kashmir region. The Meteorological Department said the weather is likely to change from December 20 evening with rain in plains and snowfall in higher reaches.
According to details, in the Kashmir valley, Pulwama recorded a minimum temperature of minus 4.0 degrees Celsius, down from minus 3.2 degrees Celsius a day earlier. Srinagar recorded minus 2.1 degrees Celsius, compared to 0.2 degrees Celsius on Thursday, while Srinagar airport registered minus 3.4 degrees Celsius against 0.0 degrees Celsius the previous day.
Pampore and Shopian recorded minus 3.5 degrees Celsius each, compared to minus 1.8 degrees Celsius and minus 1.5 degrees Celsius respectively a day earlier.
Baramulla recorded minus 3.6 degrees Celsius, down from minus 1.8 degrees Celsius, while Kupwara recorded minus 2.8 degrees Celsius compared to minus 1.0 degrees Celsius on Thursday.
Gulmarg recorded 1.0 degrees Celsius, slightly lower than 1.6 degrees Celsius recorded the previous day. Pahalgam recorded minus 2.6 degrees Celsius, compared to 0.4 degrees Celsius earlier.
Kokernag recorded 0.5 degrees Celsius against 1.8 degrees Celsius on Thursday, while Kulgam recorded 0.9 degrees Celsius, down from 2.0 degrees Celsius.
In the Jammu region, Jammu city recorded 9.9 degrees Celsius, lower than 11.0 degrees Celsius a day earlier, while Jammu airport recorded 11.1 degrees Celsius compared to 11.5 degrees Celsius on Thursday.
Banihal recorded 3.5 degrees Celsius against 5.7 degrees Celsius, and Bhaderwah recorded 2.3 degrees Celsius compared to 5.0 degrees Celsius earlier.
In Ladakh, Leh recorded a minimum temperature of minus 4.6 degrees Celsius, compared to minus 3.4 degrees Celsius on Thursday.
Meanwhile, the MeT officials said the next 24 hours are expected to remain largely dry, with only isolated chances of precipitation at a few places. From the evening of December 20, cloudy weather is likely to set in across the region, followed by rain in the plains and snowfall over higher reaches.
According to MeT officials, December 21 may witness fairly widespread rainfall in the plains and snowfall in higher reaches, particularly in north Kashmir. Upper reaches of north Kashmir are likely to receive snowfall, while the plains of Kupwara may receive 2 to 3 inches of snow. Srinagar is likely to receive 1 to 2 inches of snowfall during the period, they said.
MeT officials said parts of central Kashmir may also witness similar weather conditions, with snowfall in isolated areas. They added that another weak western disturbance is likely to affect the region around December 22.
The officials said weather conditions are expected to remain mostly dry but cloudy from December 22 to December 24. Thereafter, dry weather is likely to prevail across Kashmir till December 28.
They advised people, especially those travelling to higher reaches, to remain cautious during the period of expected snowfall.
