Sajid Raina
Srinagar, Dec 22: Cold conditions across Jammu and Kashmir showed some improvement on Monday following fresh snowfall in higher reaches and rainfall in the plains, which affected large parts of the region, even as the Meteorological Department has forecast further precipitation during the next 12 hours.
Popular hill stations and tourist destinations, including Gulmarg, Sonamarg and Pahalgam, received fresh snowfall ranging between about five and 18 inches.
The snowfall was keenly awaited by skiers, Christmas and New Year revellers, and stakeholders associated with the tourism sector.
Although cold conditions showed some improvement, minimum temperatures across the region remained below normal, with several towns in the Kashmir Valley recording sub-zero readings.
South Kashmir’s Pulwama district recorded the coldest minimum at -3.2°C, followed by Shopian at -2.9°C and Awantipora at -2.2°C.
Central Kashmir’s Srinagar district registered -0.4°C, Qazigund and Pahalgam -1.0°C each, while Gulmarg and Kulgam recorded 2.0°C and 1.2°C respectively.
In Jammu division, Katra recorded the lowest at 10.0°C, Jammu Airport 11.0°C, while Banihal and Bhaderwah registered 3.8°C and 4.4°C, respectively.
In Ladakh, Leh recorded a minimum of -4.2°C. Some stations, including Zojila Pass, Kargil, Doda, and Zethan Rafiabad, did not report data. The figures were compiled by Kashmir Weather.
The Meteorological Department has forecast further precipitation during the next 12 hours till Monday night. From December 23 onwards, the weather across Jammu and Kashmir is expected to remain partly cloudy until December 29.
It has forecast the possibility of light rain or snowfall over higher reaches at isolated places from December 30 to January 1, while January 2 and 3 are likely to be partly cloudy.
It advised travellers and transporters to follow traffic and administrative advisories. Moderate to dense fog is expected to persist over the plains of Jammu division during the next seven days.
Meanwhile, the rainfall and snowfall had a positive impact on air quality across the Valley. The Meteorological Department said the Air Quality Index (AQI) showed significant improvement following the rain.
“There has been a clear improvement in air quality due to the rainfall. After this spell, the weather is expected to remain dry and cold from December 23 to December 30,” another official said.
An advisory issued by the department warned that higher reaches of Kupwara, Bandipora and Ganderbal districts could receive moderate to heavy snowfall, especially during the night.
Travellers and transporters were advised to plan their journeys carefully and follow official advisories.
