Srinagar: Bringing respite to the people from persistent dry weather, it has started snowing after overnight rainfall in Kashmir Valley on Monday.
The people across the Valley heaved sigh of relief as snow started early Monday morning after substantial rainfall during the night. Reports said there was fairly good snowfall in higher reaches of the Valley overnight.
While Valley receives around 210 mm of rain and snow during winter, this season, except for 37 mm snowfall on December 10 and 11, it has remained dry and warmer especially during daytime.
The snowfall during winter especially during December and January is crucial as it gets stored in frozen form and starts melting during spring to replenish various tributaries and streams, which ultimately charge up the rivers.
Weatherman on Sunday had issued an advisory moderate to heavy rain and snow at “widespread places” of Jammu, Kashmir and moderate snowfall in Ladakh, mainly in Kargil district from night of 11 to forenoon of February 13
“A fresh Western Disturbance is affecting Jammu and Kashmir and adjoining area and most likely to affect the state from 11th (night) to 13th (forenoon),” Director meteorological department Sonam Lotus said.
Under the influence of the weather system, he said moderate to heavy rain or snow was expected at widespread places of Jammu, Kashmir and moderate snowfall in Ladakh, mainly Kargil district.
“Higher reaches of Kashmir are Jammu most likely to receive moderate to heavy rain or snow,” he said, adding that the weather system may lead disruption of surface transportation mainly, Srinagar-Jammu highway
