Rains in Jammu, Srinagar, fresh snow in hilly areas on Friday

By: Musaib Iqbal MK

Srinagar

As predicted by the MeT department heavy rains have lashed plains in Jammu and also in the Srinagar city on Friday while as reports from the higher reaches especially from the Gulmarg and Sonmarg have said that snow was being witnessed while as similar reports coming from the Pahalgam area of South Kashmir.

There are predictions that from the Friday afternoon till Jan 09 there would be heavy spell of snow in Kashmir valley and the people have braced up to combat such spell with their preparations.

The authorities are already prepared to deal with the situation arising out of heavy snowfall if it happens and they have already declared that they have kept men and machinery ready to clear the roads and even to rescue the people if trapped.

Amid such preparations, the government has already announced an orange alert and have said that people should take all the precautions in the hilly areas especially in the forest areas because of the prediction of heavy snowfall.

Meanwhile GNS in its weather report on Friday has said as follows.

Parts of Kashmir Valley including famous resorts of Gulmarg and Pahalgam received fresh snowfall while rains lashed plains on Friday. Amid ‘heavy-very heavy’ snow forecast, the weather office here has issued orange color weather warning for today and Saturday which stipulates need to be prepared and keeping vigil against severe weather. “IMD issues ORANGE Colour weather for J&K for 7th and 8th January,” an official of the MeT department said in a statement here.

Currently, he said, it was snowing in Gulmarg and Pahalgam besides upper reaches and raining lightly at most places of plains of J&K with thunderstorms in Katra and some other places of Jammu region. “Expect gradual increase in rain/snow intensity as the day progresses with the main intensity of heavy to very heavy rain/snow during January 7th (night) and 8th,” he said, adding, “there will be gradual improvement from January 9 morning onwards in J&K.”

He said the weather system may affect surface and air transportation, mainly on Saturday. “It may cause an avalanche/landslide in vulnerable spots.”

The MeT office has urged people not to venture in avalanche prone areas, follow traffic advisory seriously as well as maintain proper ventilation of their rooms.

Meanwhile, the MeT official said  that Srinagar recorded rainfall of 3.1mm in the last 24 hours till 0830 hours today.

The summer capital of J&K, he said, recorded a low of 2.6°C against previous night’s 0.3°C. It was 4.5°C above normal for this time of the year in Srinagar, he said.

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’.

Gulmarg, recorded a low of minus 5.5°C against minus 3.4°C on the previous night at the world famous resort, he said.

Qazigund received 4.6mm of rain in the last 24 hours while the gateway town of Kashmir recorded a low of 0.4°C, same as witnessed on the previous night, he said.

Pahalgam, the famous resort in south Kashmir which had 0.4cms of fresh snowfall recorded a low of minus 0.4°C against minus 0.8°C on previous night, he said.

Kokernag, also in south Kashmir, recorded a low of minus 0.2°C against minus 0.7°C on previous night, the official said.

Kupwara town in north Kashmir, recorded a minimum of 0.8°C against 0.0°C as on the previous night, the official said.

Jammu, with 4.6mm of rain, recorded a low of 11.1°C, up eight notches from the previous night and normal of 7.3°C for the J&K’s winter capital during this time of the year, he said.

Ladakh’s Leh recorded a low of 1.5°C against last night’s minus 7.6°C while Kargil automatic station recorded a minimum of minus 9.8°C while Drass recorded minus 12.4°C, the official said.

With GNS inputs