Sajid Raina
Srinagar, Jan 17: Minimum temperatures across Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh remained largely unchanged on Saturday compared to the previous day, even as the Meteorological Department forecast a prolonged wet spell with the possibility of heavy rain and snowfall in several areas later this month.
In the Kashmir Valley, Srinagar recorded a minimum temperature of minus 3.2 degrees Celsius, the same as on Friday. Qazigund and Pahalgam also witnessed identical overnight lows of minus 3.4 degrees Celsius and minus 2.6 degrees Celsius, respectively, showing no variation from the previous day.
Gulmarg, the Valley’s coldest tourist destination, registered a low of minus 4.2 degrees Celsius, unchanged from Friday, while Shopian and Pulwama continued to remain among the coldest plains at minus 5.6 degrees Celsius and minus 5.3 degrees Celsius, respectively. Anantnag recorded minus 4.7 degrees Celsius, also unchanged.
North Kashmir districts showed stable conditions as well, with Kupwara at minus 2.2 degrees Celsius, Baramulla at minus 1.6 degrees Celsius, and Bandipora at minus 3.1 degrees Celsius, all matching Friday’s readings. Srinagar Airport recorded minus 3.2 degrees Celsius, while Budgam and Awantipora stood at minus 3.8 degrees Celsius, with no day-to-day fluctuation.
In the Jammu region, minimum temperatures also remained steady. Jammu city recorded 4.6 degrees Celsius, Banihal 0.6 degrees Celsius, Bhaderwah 1.5 degrees Celsius, and Rajouri minus 0.5 degrees Celsius, mirroring Friday’s data. Katra and Kishtwar registered relatively warmer nights at 7.4 degrees Celsius and 7.5 degrees Celsius, respectively.
Ladakh continued to experience severe cold, with Drass recording the lowest minimum at minus 9.9 degrees Celsius, unchanged from Friday. Leh and Hanle recorded minus 7 degrees Celsius and minus 8 degrees Celsius, respectively, while Kargil stood at minus 5.1 degrees Celsius, all showing stable conditions.
Meanwhile, the Meteorological Department has forecast partly to generally cloudy weather on January 18, with light snowfall at isolated higher reaches. From January 19 to 20, light to moderate rain or snow is expected at scattered to fairly widespread places.
A more intense wet spell is likely between January 22 and 25, with the possibility of heavy rain or snowfall over parts of the Chenab Valley, Pir Panjal range, and districts of south Kashmir, particularly on January 23 and 24.
The MET office has issued an advisory warning of possible landslides at vulnerable locations and urged travellers to plan their journeys carefully, while farmers have been advised to suspend farm operations during the peak wet spell.
