Fresh snowfall in higher reaches of Kashmir

Srinagar: Most areas in the higher reaches of Kashmir and Ladakh region received fresh snowfall, while the plains were lashed by rains, with the night temperature settling above freezing point at most places in the Valley.

An official of the Meteorological Department here said that the famous ski-resort of Gulmarg in north Kashmir, a star attraction for tourists visiting the Valley during winter, received 4.5 inches of fresh snowfall along with 13.8 mm of rains.

The night temperature at the resort witnessed an increase of over five notches from the low of minus 7.4 degrees Celsius on the previous night to settle at minus 2.2 degrees Celsius, the official said, adding Gulmarg was the only recorded place in the Valley where the night temperature settled below the freezing point.

He said Pahalgam hill resort in south Kashmir, which serves as a base camp during the annual Amarnath yatra, recorded five cm of fresh snow and 30 mm of rainfall.

The minimum temperature at the hill resort improved from minus 1.3 degrees Celsius yesterday’s to settle at 0.3 degree Celsius, the spokesman said.

Kokernag hill resort in south Kashmir received 2 cm of snow and 23.4 mm of rains, the official said, adding the night temperature there settled at a low of zero degrees Celsius against yesterday’s 0.8 degree Celsius.

The official said there were reports of snowfall from other areas in the higher reaches of the Valley like Sonamarg, Amarnath Cave Shrine, Peer Ki Gali in Shopian and Razdan Pass.

Srinagar, the summer capital of Jammu and Kashmir , experienced 27.8 mm rainfall during the night and the city recorded a low of 2.8 degrees Celsius up from the previous night’s 1.5 degrees Celsius, the official said.

He said the night temperature also rose in Qazigund and Kupwara towns where it recorded the minimum of 1.2 degrees Celsius and 1.7 degrees Celsius respectively.

The towns also experienced rainfall of 25.2 mm and 24.7 mm respectively, the official said.

Leh, 434 kms from Srinagar, recorded a low of minus 4.5 degrees Celsius up over five notches from yesterday’s minus 9.9 degrees Celsius, the official said.

He said the town was experiencing snowfall when last reports came in.

The nearby Kargil town witnessed an increase of over six notches in the night temperature which settled at minus 2 degrees Celsius against the previous night’s minus 8.2 degrees Celsius, the official said.

The MET Office has forecast possibility of rains or snowfall at isolated places in the Valley.