Owais Gul
Srinagar, Jan 16: Jammu and Kashmir parts on Thursday recorded fresh snowfall while the rains lashed some areas in Jammu as well as in Central Kashmir districts, bringing down the mercury in the Union Territory.
According to reports, the moderate snowfall was recorded in Sinthan Top, Duksum, Kokernag, Kishtwar, Poonch areas and other places where up to six inches of snow accumulated this evening.
The fresh snowfall was experienced under the influence of a Western Disturbance (WD), which mostly affected the southern parts of Kashmir.
According to the details shared by the independent weather forecasters from Kashmir, Duksum recorded a snowfall of 6 inches while Pahalgam recorded around 4 inches and Baltal Pahalgam and Chandanwari recorded 6-8 inches of snow.
Qaizgund recorded a snow accumulation of two inches while light snowfall of 2 cm was recorded in South Kashmir’s Shopian and Pulwama areas.
Reports of light snowfall were also recorded from Gulmarg, Sonamarg, Doodhpathri and Srinagar areas.
In Poonch areas, almost 3-6 inches of snow accumulated, 4 inches in Kishtwar 6 inches in Sinthan Top. The snowfall was also recorded in the higher reaches of Kathua district.
The light snowfall has however brought the mercury down in Srinagar elsewhere in Kashmir.
Against Wednesday 11.0 degree Celsius, the maximum temperature in Srinagar, the summer capital of Jammu & Kashmir, settled at 3.4 degree Celsius.
In Qazigund, the gateway of Kashmir, the day temperature settled at 3.2 degree Celsius while in Pahalgam, it settled at 1.0 degree Celsius. As per the details, Kupwara recorded the maximum temperature of 6.5 degree Celsius while Kokernag and Gulmarg recorded a maximum temperature of 3.0 degree Celsius and minus 0.7 degree respectively.
Meanwhile, Director Meteorological department (MeT), Dr Mukhtar Ahmad said that the weather would remain generally cloudy from tomorrow till January 19, saying that the possibility of light snow at isolated higher reaches can’t be ruled out.
Overall, he said nothing significant is expected till January 19.
From January 20-21, the weather would remain generally cloudy with the possibility of light snow at isolated to scattered places, he said, adding that on January 22 and 23rd, the weather would remain generally cloudy with possibility of light to moderate rain in plains of Jammu and snow at scattered to fairly widespread places.
In its advisory, the MeT has advised the tourists, travelers and transporters to follow administration and traffic advisory.
However, the fresh snowfall has led to the closure of some vital roads and highways in Kashmir today.
As per the details, Sinthan-Kishtwar, Mughal Road, Srinagar-Sonamarg-Gumri, Bhaderwah-Chamba roads have been closed as a precautionary measure after the fresh snowfall in Kashmir.
Moreover, the two trains under number 74628 and 74617 between Budgam-Banihal were cancelled today due to the heavy snowfall from Banihal to Awantipora, officials said.
