SRINAGAR: Fresh snowfall was reported from the higher reaches of Gurez Valley in north Kashmir, while rain and thunderstorms affected several parts of the Valley during the intervening night of Wednesday and Thursday.
According to reports, Kabul Gali in the Tulail Valley of Gurez received a fresh layer of snow, covering the upper reaches and causing a noticeable drop in temperatures in the mountainous region.
The snowfall coincided with a spell of rain and thundershowers across Jammu and Kashmir. Several parts of the Valley, including Srinagar, witnessed rain accompanied by thunder and lightning, bringing cooler weather conditions.
The Meteorological Centre Srinagar had forecast rain and thundershowers between September 15 and 17, with the possibility of thunderstorms, lightning and gusty winds at isolated places.
The fresh snowfall has further transformed the landscape of the high-altitude Gurez region, where temperatures remain considerably lower than in the plains. The area had also witnessed the season’s first snowfall earlier this month, along with parts of the Sonamarg-Zojila axis and other higher reaches.
Residents and travellers have been advised to exercise caution while moving through mountainous areas, where weather conditions, visibility and road conditions can change rapidly following snowfall and rain.
The Meteorological Department has forecast an improvement in weather conditions from September 18, with generally dry weather expected across Jammu and Kashmir until September 25, although isolated brief spells of rain cannot be ruled out.
