Kashmir upper reaches receive season’s first snowfall

Srinagar, Sep 5: Rain lashed parts of Jammu and Kashmir on Saturday, while Kashmir upper reaches recorded the season’s first snowfall, bringing a nip in the air and signalling the gradual onset of autumn.
According to reports, the rainfall was accompanied by hailstorms and gusty winds at a few places, including parts of Srinagar, while light snowfall was reported from the extreme higher reaches, including the mountains around Zojila Pass, Gumri, Gulmarg and the Pir Panjal range.
Snowfall was also recorded over the higher reaches of Srinagar, with Mahadev Peak seen covered in fresh snow. Moreover, there were also reports of snowfall from Kaobal Gali, Tulail Valley.
“Snowfall today has remained confined to around 3900 metres and above. This was expected as the prediction for extreme higher reaches was already shared,” said an independent weatherman.
“When snowfall begins to occur over the extreme higher reaches, even during short spells, it can signal the onset of autumn and the withdrawal of monsoon season,” he added.
According to the India Meteorological Department’s evening weather bulletin, Srinagar recorded 0.4 mm of rainfall between 8:30 am and 5:30 pm, while Pahalgam received 2.6 mm, Qazigund 1 mm, and Kukernag 1.2 mm.
Gulmarg recorded 7.2 mm of rainfall during the period, while Katra received no rain during the day but recorded 42.6 mm in the preceding 24 hours.
Srinagar recorded a maximum temperature of 26.6 degrees Celsius, 1.2 degrees below normal, while the minimum temperature settled at 17.2 degrees Celsius, 2 degrees above normal.
Pahalgam recorded a maximum of 23.4 degrees Celsius and a minimum of 13.4 degrees, while Gulmarg recorded 19 degrees and 7.6 degrees, respectively.
In Jammu, the maximum temperature was 32.7 degrees Celsius, which was normal for this time of the year, while the minimum stood at 23.4 degrees, 0.4 degrees below normal.
The weather system has now largely cleared the J&K region, though a short-duration spell of rain or thundershower is possible at a few places on Sunday, particularly during the morning and afternoon hours.
Mostly dry weather is expected to prevail across Jammu and Kashmir thereafter till September 12, according to the forecast.
The fresh snowfall over the extreme higher reaches is considered a seasonal indicator, with such snowfall during this period often coinciding with the gradual transition towards autumn and the withdrawal of the monsoon season. (KNO)