Snow spell ends, sun shines in Kashmir

Tribune News Service

Srinagar, January 13

The sun shone over most parts of the Kashmir valley for the first time in recent weeks on Sunday as the latest spell of snowfall, which continued intermittently for three days, ended in the region.

The rare sunny day came as a respite in the region which has been battling one of its severe winters of the past decade with back-to-back snowfalls causing traffic disruptions and triggering threats of avalanches in remote mountainous areas.

The latest snowfall had ended by Saturday evening at most places in the Valley and was the fifth such spell since snowfall in November’s first week marked early arrival of winter.

The surface connectivity as well as air traffic, which was disrupted by the snowfall in the region, was restored and vehicles stranded along the Srinagar-Jammu highway were allowed to move.

The precipitation during the winter so far has been abundant and widespread compared to past years when many winters passed on without major spell of snow.

In Kashmir, where the residents are struggling with record-low temperatures and freezing climatic conditions, the temperatures overnight remained comparatively warm.

The minimum temperature in Srinagar, the state’s summer capital, dropped to a low of -0.4°C, making it the warmest night of the month.

The night temperatures across the Valley, except Gulmarg, hovered close to the freezing point. In Gulmarg, the resort famous with skiers during winter, the overnight temperature had slid to -9°C.

Amid partial respite and dry weather, the Indian Meteorological Department in its forecast said another wet spell was likely in the Valley later this week.

It said two western disturbance patterns are likely to impact the region on Wednesday and Saturday. These might cause widespread rain and snowfall, it said.

Respite for residents 

• The rare sunny day came as a respite in the region which has been battling one of its severe winters of the past decade with back-to-back snowfalls causing traffic disruptions and triggering threats of avalanches in remote mountainous areas.
• The latest snowfall had ended by Saturday evening at most places in the Valley and was the fifth such spell since snowfall in November's first week marked early arrival of winter.