Kashmir receives fresh snowfall in upper reaches, rain in plains
• Weather to improve from today: MeT • SSG, Mughal roads closed for traffic, • Two-way traffic to ply on Sgr-Jmu road today
Srinagar, Dec 05: Higher reaches of Kashmir received fresh snowfall, while rains lashed the plains on Sunday, officials said.
The officials of Meteorological Department predicted improvement in prevailing weather conditions from Monday onward.
Director Meteorological Department, Kashmir, Sonam Lotus told Rising Kashmir that as was forecasted, plains in Kashmir witnessed intermittent rains, while upper reaches received moderate snowfall till Sunday late evening.
“We are expecting significant improvement in prevailing weather conditions from Monday. Thereafter, there is no forecast of any major weather activity over five to six days,” Lotus said.
About the return of the cold wave, he said, there are fewer chances as night temperatures have improved and it will gain momentum in upcoming days.
As per data shared by MeT data, ski-resort Gulmarg in Baramulla recorded fresh snowfall of 5-6 inches of a fresh snowfall, Machil 3 inches, Sonamarg 5 inches, Yousmarg 3 inches, Sinton Top 2 inches, Minimarg 5 inches, Sadhna Top, 2 inches, Zojila Pass 5 inches, and Drass also received light snowfall till Sunday evening.
Meanwhile, intermittent rains continued in the plains throughout the day.
Srinagar received 11.4 millimeters of rainfall between 8:30 am to 5:30 pm on Sunday. Qazigund 13.6 mm, Pahalgam 11.6 mm, and Banihal recorded 22.8 mm of rainfall till Sunday evening.
Meanwhile, the minimum temperature rose across Kashmir and settled above the freezing point at most places of the valley on Saturday night.
Srinagar recorded a low of 0.6 degrees Celsius on Saturday night, Pahalgam, recorded a low of 2.7 degrees Celsius. Gulmarg recorded minus 1.4 degrees Celsius and was the only place in the valley where the mercury stayed below the freezing point.
As per the Traffic Department advisory, following the fresh snowfall along Srinagar-Sonamarg-Gumri Road and Mughal road, no traffic will be allowed on these highways on Monday.
While there will be two-way traffic on the 270-kilometer Jammu-Srinagar highway on Monday. Subject to fair weather and better road conditions on Monday LMVs (passenger) shall be allowed from both sides on Jammu-Srinagar NHW viz Jammu towards Srinagar and vice-versa. TCU Jammu/ Srinagar shall liaise with TCU Ramban before releasing the traffic, reads the advisory.
Earlier authorities had closed the 84-km-long Bandipora-Gurez road for vehicular movement till further orders.
