Srinagar, Feb 24: Weatherman on Thursday forecast “moderate rain and snow at scattered places of J&K” in next 48 hours and dry weather thereafter till February end.
“As expected, rain/snow decreased significantly since last night but weather is overcast in Kashmir, cloudy in Jammu and partly to generally cloudy in Ladakh,” said a meteorological department, adding, “We expect gradual improvement in visibility as the day progresses.”
He said light to moderate rain and snow was expected at scattered places of J&K in the next 24 hours and tomorrow (Friday). “Mainly dry is expected thereafter till the end of February,” he said, adding, “There is no forecast of any major snowfall till the end of the month”.
The meteorological department official said Srinagar recorded a rise of 0.7 degrees Celsius in night temperature with mercury settling at 0.7°C against last night’s 0.0°C. The temperature was below 0.2°C than the normal for this time of the year in Srinagar, he said.
Qazigund, the gateway town of Kashmir, recorded a low of minus 0.1°C against 0.0°C on the previous night, he said.
Kokernag, also in south Kashmir, had a low of minus 0.8°C against minus 1.0°C on the previous night, the official said.
Pahalgam, the famous resort in south Kashmir, recorded a low of minus 0.8 °C against minus 0.8°C last night, he said.
Gulmarg recorded a low of minus 5.2°C, same as witnessed on the previous night, he said.
The temperature was 1.5°C above normal for this time of the year in the famous resort in north Kashmir’s Baramulla district, he said.
Kupwara town in north Kashmir recorded a low of 0.2 °C against 0.1°C on the previous night, the official said.
While ‘Chillai Kalan’, the 40-day long harshest period of winter ended on January 30, and 20-day long ‘Chillai Khurd’ culminated on February 19, Kashmir is presently under the grip of 10-day-long ‘Chilla Bachha’.
Jammu recorded a low of 12.0°C against 13.2°C on the previous night, the official said. The temperature was 1.4°C above normal for the J&K’s winter capital during this time of the year, he said.
Banihal recorded a low of 0.8°C, Batote recorded 2.7°C and Bhaderwah witnessed a low of 4.0°C, the official said.
Ladakh’s Leh recorded a low of minus 5.6°C against last night minus 6.9°C on previous night while mercury at automatic station in Kargil settled at minus minus 9.0°C. Drass, the second coldest place in the world after Siberia, recorded a low of minus 7.2°C, same as on the previous night, official added.
