Fresh snowfall raises temperature in Kashmir

Srinagar, Jan 14: Kashmir received fresh snowfall on Tuesday resulting in rise in temperature while Srinagar-Jammu highway is open for traffic. Meteorological Department has predicted dry weather for coming three days.

Reports of fresh snowfall were received from Pahalgam in south Kashmir and Gulmarg in Baramulla district. Pahalgam received 2.4 mm while Gulmarg recorded 0.8 mm of snowfall. The upper reaches of north Kashmir including Machil, Sadna Pass, Z-Gali and Gurez also witnessed snowfall.

Reports of snowfall were also received from plains during night, including Srinagar.

Director MeT Department, Sonam Lotus told Greater Kashmir that snowfall was light. “We expect dry weather for coming three days,” he said adding that there was a rise in temperature due to fresh snowfall.

MeT officials here said Srinagar received 0.5 mm of snow during the night and recorded a minimum temperature of 0.5 degree Celsius, over one degree up from the previous night's low of minus 1.1 degree Celsius.

Qazigund witnessed over two degree rise to settle at a low of minus 1.5 degree Celsius as against minus 3.9 degree Celsius the previous night, they said adding that the town also recorded 2.9 mm of snowfall.

The officials said that Kupwara, in north Kashmir, registered a low of minus 0.4 degree Celsius, over two degrees up from the previous night's minus 3 degree Celsius, the town received 0.4 mm of fresh snowfall.

They said that the night temperature in Kokernag settled at a low of minus 3.6 degree Celsius as compared to the previous night's minus 5.2 degree Celsius while as the tourist resort received 1.5 mm of snow.

The officials said that the mercury in Pahalgam went up by almost two degrees from the previous night's low of minus 5.6 degree Celsius, to settle at a low of minus 3.8 degree Celsius last night.

Gulmarg which recorded a low of minus 7.6 degree Celsius the previous night, registered a low of minus 6 degree Celsius last night.

MeT officials said that temperature in Leh rose by almost two degree to settle at a low of minus 10.2 degree Celsius as compared to the previous night's minus 12.1 degree Celsius.

They said that the mercury in Kargil town settled at minus 12.0 degree Celsius as against the previous night’s minus 11.5 degree Celsius. (Courtesy -- Greater Kashmir)