Kashmir likely to get more snow in New Year week

Heavy snowfall and rain disrupted life across Kashmir as the Meteorological (MeT) department forecasted cold, dry weather during the next 72 hours in Jammu and Kashmir.

Mukhtar Ahmad, Director of the local MeT department, said, “Two Western disturbances (WDs) are expected to affect the weather system on January 1st and January 3. The first WD is likely to be weak, but the second WD is expected to be of moderate intensity that will cause snow in the Valley and rain/snow in the Jammu division.”

Meanwhile, Gulmarg and Pahalgam in Kashmir continued to experience severe subzero temperatures while the rest of the Valley saw slight relief from the cold wave, officials said on Sunday.

Gulmarg, a tourist resort town known for skiing activities in north Kashmir, recorded a low of minus 8° Celsius, the Meteorological department said. The base camp for annual Amarnath Yatra in south Kashmir, Pahalgam, registered a minimum of minus 8.5° Celsius, the department said.

In Srinagar, the mercury dipped to minus 0.2° Celsius on Saturday night — two degrees above the normal temperature for this time of the year, it added.

Qazigund, the gateway town to Kashmir, logged a minimum temperature of minus 0.4° Celsius, while Konibal in Parampore recorded a low of minus 1.0° Celsius, the weather office said.

Kupwara in north Kashmir registered minus 1° Celsius while in south Kashmir, Kokernag recorded 1.8° Celsius, the office said.

Kashmir is currently under the grip of ‘Chillai-Kalan’ — the harshest period of winter — which began on December 21. During the 40 days of Chillai-Kalan, the chances of snowfall are the highest and the temperature drops considerably.