Srinagar, Dec 26 (Representative) Amid intense cold and freezing temperatures, the Meteorological Department Srinagar has forecast light snowfall over the higher reaches of Jammu and Kashmir during the next 24 hours, officials said. The MeT office said a Western Disturbance (WD) is likely to hit and can cause light rain over the plains of Jammu and light snow over higher reaches of the Chenab Valley and Pir Panjal range towards December 27 late afternoon to December 28 forenoon.“In the Jammu region, higher reaches of Kathua, Doda, Ramban, and Kishtwar districts are likely to experience snowfall ranging from 1 to 4 inches, with extreme higher altitudes receiving up to 10 inches of snow. The plains of the Jammu region can expect light to moderate rain showers, while Poonch and Rajouri districts are likely to experience a comparatively lesser impact,” an independent weather forecaster, Faizan Arif, told UNI.He said, “For the Kashmir region, snowfall remains a possibility in parts of south Kashmir, with a 25-30% chance, and the highest probability is for the districts of Kulgam and Anantnag. Additionally, a few weather models indicate the possibility of the system extending to central Kashmir, potentially bringing light rain or snowfall”. The weather will remain dry hereafter till December 30, and another spell of light snow is expected at a few higher reaches in the Kashmir Valley at the end of the year. There was no letup in the bone-chilling cold in Srinagar and other parts of the Kashmir Valley, with night temperatures continuing to fall on Thursday. The harshest were the three districts of south Kashmir—Pulwama, Anantnag, and Shopian—recording the season’s lowest at -9.3°C, respectively, on Thursday, freezing major water bodies, streams, nallas, and taps.Although there was a slight improvement in the night temperature, Srinagar recorded at -7.0°C on Thursday against the -7.3°C the previous night.
This was 4.6°C below the average for the summer capital of Jammu and Kashmir during this period of the season. The relentless cold wave and freezing temperature have seized taps, and several water bodies and a thick layer of ice surface have emerged on the major parts of iconic Dal Lake.Pahalgam remained the coldest place of the valley, with night temperatures further plunging to a couple of notches and recorded at -8.6°C against the -8.4°C on Wednesday. This was 3.4°C below normal for the tourist spot of south Kashmir’s Anantnag district during the period. Qazigund, the gateway to the Kashmir Valley, slipped down to a low of -7.0°C against the -6.6°C recorded the previous night, and this was 4.6°C below the average for the place on the Srinagar-Jammu national highway. The picnic spot of Kokernag in south Kashmir also witnessed a drop by a notch and recorded a low of -5.5°C against the -5.4°C a day ago, and this was 3.3°C below the average for the place. The ski resort of Gulmarg in north Kashmir’s Baramulla district settled at -6.6°C for the second consecutive day on Thursday, and this was 0.6°C below normal for the Valley of Meadows during this period. The minimum temperature at Kashmir’s frontier district of Kupwara further fell to a low of -6.7°C on Thursday against the -6.4°C on Wednesday, and this was 3.7°C below normal for the border town during this period of the season, the MeT office.