Srinagar, Oct 23: A feeble western disturbance brought light rains accompanied by gusty winds to parts of Kashmir on Friday evening, while snowfall turned several higher reaches white, including Aharbalmountains in south Kashmir’s Kulgam district, which received the season’s first snow.
After a day of bright sunshine and pleasant weather, clouds gathered over the Valley towards evening, bringing a sudden change in conditions. Gusty winds swept several areas, accompanied by light rain and thundershowers in parts of north, central and south Kashmir.
While the plains received light precipitation, higher reaches of south Kashmir witnessed snowfall, with similar weather activity possible in high-altitude areas of north and central Kashmir in the coming hours.
Peer Ki Gali, connecting Kashmir with Poonch, Sinthan Top, linking the Valley with Kishtwar, and Margan Top, connecting Kashmir with the twin valleys of Warwan and Marwah, also reported light snowfall.
“Snowfall was continuing till last reports,” officials said.
Other high-altitude areas likely to receive snow include Gulmarg, Sonamarg, Zojila Pass, Gurez, Tulail, Razdan Top, Sadhna Pass and Karnah.
At Aharbal in Kulgam, fresh snow blanketed the higher reaches for the first time this season, turning the mountain slopes white as the weather system brought a wintry touch to the Valley.
The Meteorological Department has forecast light rain at isolated places on Friday and Saturday, followed by predominantly dry weather during the following week. A fresh spell of light rain or snowfall is possible at a few places between November 1 and 3.
The weather shift comes as night temperatures across Kashmir continue to fall; Shopian recorded the valley’s lowest minimum temperature at 0.5 degrees Celsius on Thursday night.
Awantipora recorded 1.8 degrees Celsius, while Pulwama registered 1.3 degrees Celsius. Sonamarg and Pahalgam recorded 2.1 degrees Celsius each, while Gulmarg registered 2.2 degrees Celsius.
Srinagar recorded a minimum temperature of 4.9 degrees Celsius.
Other weather stations also reported chilly nights, with Anantnag recording 3.1 degrees Celsius, Budgam 2.9 degrees Celsius, Kupwara 3.2 degrees Celsius, Qazigund 3.8 degrees Celsius, Ganderbal 4.5 degrees Celsius, Bandipora 4.3 degrees Celsius, Kulgam 4.8 degrees Celsius, and Kokernag 6.2 degrees Celsius.
Despite the falling night temperatures, daytime readings have hovered around 21 degrees Celsius, keeping the weather relatively pleasant under sunshine before temperatures dip after sunset.
The cooling trend has also extended to the Chenab Valley and PirPanjal districts of Doda, Kishtwar, Ramban, Rajouri and Poonch in the Jammu division.
Bhaderwah recorded a minimum temperature of 4.9 degrees Celsius, Banihal 5.1 degrees Celsius and Rajouri 9.2 degrees Celsius, while daytime temperatures in these areas remained in the mid-20s.
In Jammu, minimum temperatures in Reasi, Kathua and Udhampur ranged between 12 degrees Celsius and 16 degrees Celsius, while daytime temperatures remained around 29 degrees Celsius.
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