Amid light rains, mercury drops in Kashmir

Srinagar, March 31: Following light rains overnight, the minimum temperatures dropped in most places in the Kashmir Valley, recording below sub-zero at world famous skiing resort of Gulmarg, officials said on Wednesday.

A meteorological department official said that the Srinagar received 1.4mm of rain in 24 hours till 0830 hours today while the mercury settled at 6.6°C against previous night’s 8.6°C in the summer capital. The temperature was above by 0.5°C in Srinagar for this time of the year, the official said.

Qazigund, the gateway town of Kashmir, received no rain and recorded a low of 6.5°C against 6.0°C on the previous night, he said.

Pahalgam had 3.4mm of rain while mercury settled at 1.7°C against 2.3°C on the earlier night at the famous resort in south Kashmir, he said.

Kokernag, also in south Kashmir, received 6.7mm of rain and recorded a low of 6.7°C against previous night’s 4.3°C, the official said.

The minimum temperature settled at 4.5°C in Kupwara against 6.0°C on the previous night, the official said. The north Kashmir district had no rain during the time, he said.

Gulmarg, the world famous skiing resort in north Kashmir’s Baramulla district, recorded a minimum temperature of minus 1.0°C against 0.5°C on the previous night and received 1.2mm of rain. The temperature was minus 0.8°C above normal for the place during this time of the year, the official added.

The meteorological department has forecast “mainly dry weather” for next few.

As per the weekly forecast, there is possibility of isolated showers on April 2 and 4 besides widespread rains with possibility of 76-100% on April 5 and 6.