Sajid Raina
Srinagar, Dec 31: The Meteorological Department has forecast generally cloudy weather across Jammu and Kashmir, with light to moderate rain and snowfall expected at most places from Wednesday night till Thursday morning or forenoon, officials said.
The snowfall was continuing in several areas of north Kashmir, including ski resort Gulmarg and Sonamarg, and upper reaches of the Valley like Gurez and Tulail, when this report was filed.
According to the MET Centre Srinagar, a western disturbance is likely to affect the Union Territory from the night of December 31 to January 1, bringing light to moderate rain or snowfall to most areas.
A few higher and extremely high reaches of north and central Kashmir may receive moderate to heavy snowfall during this period.
On January 2, weather conditions are expected to remain partly to generally cloudy, with brief spells of light rain or snowfall at isolated places, the department said.
From January 3 to January 5, the weather is likely to remain partly cloudy, while January 6 may witness generally cloudy conditions with the possibility of light snowfall over isolated higher reaches of north and central Kashmir.
According to the forecast, the weather conditions are expected to remain partly cloudy from January 7 to January 8, partly to generally cloudy on January 9 and 10, and partly cloudy again from January 11 to January 13.
The department has advised travellers and transporters to follow traffic and administrative advisories, particularly in view of the likelihood of snowfall in higher reaches. It warned of moderate fog over the plains of the Jammu division, with dense fog at isolated places during the next 48 hours.
Meanwhile, minimum temperatures across Kashmir remained a few degrees above the freezing point at most places, officials said.
Srinagar recorded a low of 2.3 degrees Celsius, while Qazigund recorded 1.4 degrees and Pahalgam 1.8 degrees.
Gulmarg, however, continued to remain below freezing at minus 3.0 degrees Celsius. Pulwama and Shopian recorded sub-zero temperatures at minus 0.2 degrees and minus 1.1 degrees, respectively.
In the Jammu region, minimum temperatures were relatively higher, with Jammu city recording 10.4 degrees Celsius, Katra 10.0 degrees and Reasi 10.8 degrees.
Banihal recorded a low of 5.9 degrees Celsius, while Bhaderwah recorded 4.0 degrees.
In Ladakh, Leh recorded a minimum temperature of minus 6.0 degrees Celsius.
Several flights at Srinagar International Airport were cancelled due to adverse weather and operational issues, officials said.
According to airport authorities, the cancelled flights include IndiGo flight 6E-6164/6165, Air India flights AI-3423/3421 operating between Delhi and Jammu, AI-3422/3424 between Jammu and Delhi, and AI-2431/2434 operating from Leh.
A SpiceJet flight SG-160/161 from Delhi was also cancelled.
Officials said one Air India flight was cancelled due to bad weather conditions in Delhi, while the SpiceJet flight was cancelled for operational reasons.
Passengers have been advised to check with airlines for the latest updates before proceeding to the airport.
