‘May affect surface, air traffic’: MeT forecasts heavy snowfall in JK parts

Srinagar: Weatherman on Friday said that heavy snow was expected at some places in Jammu and Kashmir during January 5 to 6 and that it may affect road and aerial transportation.

“As per today’s analysis, widespread snow, rain spell of moderate-intensity is most likely during 4-6 January in both JK and Ladakh with main activity on 5-6,” a meteorological department official said.

“Heavy snow is expected at some places during 5 6,” he said, adding, “(It) may affect the surface and air transportation.”

He said light snow is expected over higher reaches of Kashmir during January 2-3 and the Valley expects colder days and warmer nights from January 2nd onwards, he added.

Meanwhile, cold conditions prevailed across JK and Ladakh even there was a slight rise in minimum temperature with Gulmarg recording a low of minus 9.0°C.

The official said that Srinagar, the summer capital of JK, recorded a low of minus 3.0°C against the previous night’s minus 4.0°C. Although the temperature was above 1.0°C than the previous night, it was minus 0.9°C below normal for this time of the year.

Kashmir is presently under the grip of a 40-day long harshest period of winter, known locally as ‘Chillai Kalan, which started from December 21.

The mercury settled at the world-famous resort of Gulmarg at minus 9.0°C against minus 9.6°C on the previous night, he said.

Qazigund, the gateway town of Kashmir, had a low of minus 3.0°C against 4.2°C on the previous night, he said.

Pahalgam, the famous resort in south Kashmir, recorded a low of minus 6.6°C against minus 8.9°C on the previous night, he said.

Kokernag, also in south Kashmir, recorded a low of minus 3.3°C against minus 3.6°C on the previous night, the official said.

Kupwara town in north Kashmir recorded a minimum of minus 2.6°C against minus 4.4°C on the previous night, the official said.

Jammu, the JK’s winter capital, saw a drop temperature by 8 notches from the previous night, recording a low of 5.1°C which is minus 1.5°C below normal for the place during this time of the year, he said.

Ladakh’s Leh had a low of minus 15.0°C against last night’s minus 16.0°C while Kargil station recorded a minimum of minus 10.2°C. Drass in Kargil, the second coldest place in the world after Siberia, recorded a low of minus 19.8°C, the official said.

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