Srinagar: Several parts of Kashmir, including the plains, received fresh snowfall on Thursday, with moderate to heavy snow in the higher reaches, leading to an improvement in the minimum temperatures, officials said.
The Meteorological Department had forecast two back-to-back western disturbances affecting the region.
A feeble western disturbance hit Jammu and Kashmir overnight causing light to heavy snowfall across the valley, the officials said.
They said while the parts of Bandipora, Kupwara, Baramulla, and Anantnag received moderate to heavy snowfall, the plains in Srinagar, and Ganderbal recorded light snowfall.
Tourist destinations of Gulmarg, Sonamarg, and Pahalgam as well as Zojila axis also logged fresh snowfall, the officials added.
Srinagar and the other plain areas of Kashmir had received the season’s first snowfall last week.
The MeT Office has said that light snow is likely at isolated higher reaches on Friday.
A moderate to strong western disturbance is expected to affect Jammu and Kashmir from January 4 to 6, with light to moderate snow likely at most places peaking between the night of January 4 till the morning of January 6.
Meanwhile, the night temperature improved at most places in the valley.
Gulmarg resort in north Kashmir recorded a low of minus 8.6 degrees Celsius, slightly up from the previous night’s minus 8.8 degrees Celsius, the weather department said. Gulmarg was the coldest recorded place in the valley.
Pahalgam in south Kashmir registered a minimum of minus 4 degrees Celsius, up from minus 7.6 degrees Celsius, it said.
In Srinagar, the mercury settled at a low of minus 2.6 degrees Celsius on Wednesday night, up from the previous night’s minus 4.4 degrees Celsius, it added.
Qazigund, the gateway town to Kashmir, logged a minimum temperature of minus 5.2 degrees Celsius, while Konibal in Pampore town also recorded a low of minus 4 degrees Celsius, the weather office said.
Kupwara in north Kashmir registered minus 1.4 degrees Celsius, while in south Kashmir, Kokernag recorded minus 5.8 degrees Celsius, it said.