By: Muzamil Bhat CK

Srinagar

According to the MeT department there is the possibility of heavy snowfall in many areas of Jammu and Kashmir during January 5 to 6. The prediction for heavy snowfall is coming at the juncture of time when the dry weather conditions have already brought a lot of misery for the common people with sub zero temperatures prevailing during the nights.

In this severe spell of winter, already people of Kashmir are reeling under cold wave conditions and the clear skies have only one advantage for the people that they come out to do their routine work during the day time because of sunshine.

“As per today’s analysis, a widespread snow/rain spell of moderate intensity is most likely during 4-6th January in both J&K and Ladakh with main activity on 5-6th,” a meteorological department official said in a statement to GNS. “Heavy Snow is expected at some places during the 5th-6th,” he said, adding, “(It) may affect the surface and air transportation.” He said light snow is expected over higher reaches of Kashmir during January 2-3rd. “Expect colder days and warmer nights from January 2nd onwards,” he added.

Meanwhile, cold conditions prevailed across J&K and Ladakh even though there was slight rise in minimum temperature with Gulmarg recording a low of minus 9.0°C.

The official told GNS that Srinagar, the summer capital of J&K, recorded a low of minus 3.0°C against previous night’s minus 4.0°C. Although the temperature was above 1.0°C than the previous night, it was minus 0.9°C below normal for this time of the year.

Kashmir is presently under the grip of 40-day long harshest period of winter, known locally as ‘Chillai Kalan, which started from December 21. It is followed by a 20-day long ‘Chillai Khurd’ and a 10-day-long ‘Chilla Bachha’.

The mercury settled at the world famous resort of Gulmarg at minus 9.0°C against minus 9.6°C on the previous night, he said.

Qazigund, the gateway town of Kashmir, had a low of minus 3.0°C against 4.2°C on the previous night, he said.

Pahalgam, the famous resort in south Kashmir, recorded a low of minus 6.6°C against minus 8.9°C on the previous night, he said.

Kokernag, also in south Kashmir, recorded a low of minus 3.3°C against minus 3.6°C on the previous night, the official said.

Kupwara town in north Kashmir recorded a minimum of minus 2.6°C against minus 4.4°C on the previous night, the official said.

Jammu, the J&K’s winter capital, saw a drop in temperature by 8 notches from the previous night, recording a low of 5.1°C which is minus 1.5°C below normal for the place during this time of the year, he said.

Ladakh’s Leh had a low of minus 15.0°C against last night’s minus 16.0°C while automatic Kargil station recorded a minimum of minus 10.2°C. Drass in Kargil, the second coldest place in the world after Siberia, recorded a low of minus 19.8°C, the official said.

With GNS inputs