Srinagar: The night temperature rose considerably across Kashmir Valley amid forecast for snow in next few days especially tomorrow and day after it.
An official of the MET department said Srinagar – the summer capital of Jammu and Kashmir – recorded a minimum temperature of 0.2 degrees Celsius against minus 0.4 degrees Celsius from the normal for night for this time of the season .
The official said the mercury in Qazigund and Kokernag towns in south Kashmir settled at a low of minus 2.2 degrees Celsius and minus 3.3 degrees Celsius respectively.
Kupwara town in north Kashmir registered a low of minus 2.6 degrees Celsius, he said.
Gulmarg, the famous ski-resort in north Kashmir recorded a low of minus 5.0 degrees Celsiuswhile the famous health resort of Pahalgam registered a minimum of minus 2.2 degrees Celsius.
The MeT has predicted another spell of rain and snowfall till February 8 which might affect the traffic on the highway once again.
The official said western disturbance has hit the state and under its influence scattered to fairly widespread light to moderate rain or snowfall would occur over the state with main activity on February 6 and 7.
He said the system will move forward from north-west to south-east of Jammu and Kashmir and again Pripanjal range from Bhaderwah to Baramulla will receive heavy rain snow especially tomorrow and day after it.
The system is likely to cause widespread rain/snow with heavy to very heavy rain/snow mainly in South Kashmir, Pirpanjal Range (Doda, Batote, Badeewah, Ramban, Banihal and Baramulla) including Jawahar Tunnel, he said.
Meanwhile, Divisional Commissioner Kashmir has directed the Deputy Commissioners of all these districts to advise the people living in avalanche prone areas not to venture out to avoid the loss of lives.
Further, the DCs have been directed to activate their Control Rooms and ensure snow clearance equipments are placed at proper places for snow clearance in respect of their districts as per the snow clearance plan.
Besides, the divisional commissioner has asked them to take all the precautionary measures and to keep the SDRF, Police and Para-medical staff with ambulances in readiness to avert any untoward incident.