Srinagar, Dec 31: Widespread rains and snowfall were predicted over the most places in Jammu and Kashmir from January 01 onwards due to back-to-back western disturbances (WDs).
According to a weather reports by Indian Meteorological Department and Sky Met Weather, a western disturbance lies over Jammu and Kashmir and neighbourhood while as another western disturbance is likely to affect western Himalayan region from January 01, 2019.
Given that the two back-to-back western disturbances are approaching the northern mountains, we expect first week of January to experience widespread rain and snowfall activities, Sky Met Weather forecast said.
IMD in its Monday morning forecast also said under the new western disturbance influence, the minimum temperatures over parts of northwest and adjoining central India have risen by 0.5°-1.0 degree Celsius and are likely to further rise by 1-2 degree Celsius during next 48 hours.
However, with a short break on January 03, another rainy spell will be observed over the hills which is expected to last till January 06.
Thereafter, from January 07, weather over the hills will start clearing up.
Sky Met Weather in its report said by end of November had said that Jammu and Kashmir was rain surplus by almost 38 percent. “However, due to poor rains in the month of December, the state’s surplus got consumed fully and now, the state is 1 percent rain deficient,” the weather report said.
It said the reason for these poor rains has mainly been attributed to the feeble western disturbances. “Although frequency was more but they mostly tracked in higher latitudes i.e. the northern parts of Jammu and Kashmir and lasted for short durations only,” it added.
Meanwhile, after a day’s respite, severe cold wave again gripped the Kashmir Valley and Ladakh region on Monday, the local Met Office said.
An official of the Met department said the minimum temperature was minus 6.6 degree Celsius in Srinagar, while it was minus 5.5 degree Celsius in Pahalgam, and minus 5 degree Celsius in Gulmarg.
The Kashmir Valley is passing through the 40-day long period of harsh winter cold known as the ‘Chillai Kalan’. It starts every year on December 21 and ends on January 30.
Leh recorded minus 14 degree Celsius as the minimum temperature, and in Kargil, it was minus 17.2 degree Celsius.
Jammu had 5.2 degrees Celsius, Katra 6 degrees Celsius, Batote 1.5 degrees Celsius, Bannihal minus 1.5 degree and Bhaderwah minus 0.2 degree as the night’s lowest temperature.
