Srinagar, Oct 24: Fresh snowfall blanketed Kashmir’s higher reaches for the second consecutive day on Saturday, while rain and a sharp fall in daytime temperatures brought a wintry chill back to the plains after a week of sunshine and relatively warm weather.
Day temperatures dipped up to 6 degrees Celsius below normal in parts of Kashmir and Jammu divisions as a feeble western disturbance kept skies cloudy, bringing light rain and thundershowers to scattered areas and fresh snow to mountain passes and high-altitude regions.
Gulmarg recorded a maximum temperature of 6.8 degrees Celsius, 5.6 degrees below normal, while Bhaderwah in Jammu division registered 16.6 degrees, 6 degrees below normal.
Fresh snowfall of 3 to 4 inches was reported at Peer Ki Gali along the Mughal Road connecting Kashmir with Poonch, Sinthan Top on the route linking the Valley with Kishtwar, and Margan Top, which connects Kashmir with the twin valleys of Warwan and Marwah.
The higher reaches around Aharbal in south Kashmir’s Kulgam district also received fresh snow, turning the mountain slopes white.
Light snowfall was reported at several other high-altitude locations, including Apharwat peak in Gulmarg, Baltal-Sonamarg, Zojila Pass, Gurez, Tulail, Razdan Top, Sadhna Pass and Karnah.
The higher reaches of the PirPanjal range surrounding Rajouri and Poonch districts also witnessed snowfall, while rains lashed low-lying areas.
According to Greater Kashmir correspondent SumitBhargav in Rajouri-the snowfall continued for over two hours, bringing a sharp dip in temperatures.
“The Mughal Road, connecting the twin districts with Kashmir Valley, also received fresh snow, but traffic movement continued despite a thin layer of snow covering stretches of the road,” he reported.
The cold was felt across the Valley plains, with maximum temperatures remaining below normal at most monitored stations.
Srinagar, the summer capital of Jammu and Kashmir, recorded a maximum temperature of 18 degrees Celsius, 2.9 degrees below normal.
Pahalgam recorded 14.2 degrees Celsius, 3.7 degrees below normal, while Kokernag registered the same maximum temperature, 5.2 degrees below normal. Kupwara recorded 18.2 degrees Celsius, 3.5 degrees below normal.
Qazigund, however, recorded a maximum of 20.6 degrees Celsius, normal for this time of the year.
Daytime temperatures also remained below normal across the Jammu division. Jammu recorded a maximum of 26.2 degrees Celsius, 3.5 degrees below normal, while Katra settled at 22 degrees, 4.3 degrees below normal.
Banihal recorded 21.6 degrees Celsius, 1.2 degrees below normal, while Batote registered 20.9 degrees, 0.7 degrees below normal.
The Meteorological Department had forecast light rain at isolated places from Friday through Saturday and until Sunday afternoon, followed by predominantly dry weather over the following week.
Another spell of light rain or snowfall is possible at a few places between November 1 and 3.
With fresh snow covering mountain passes and daytime temperatures falling sharply across the region, Kashmir has seen a distinct turn towards wintry conditions. Mostly dry weather is expected over the coming week, offering a brief respite before the possibility of another spell of precipitation in early November.
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