Srinagar: Many areas in the higher reaches of Kashmir received fresh snowfall while the plains were lashed by rain, bringing the day temperature down by several degrees, officials said here on Thursday.
Under the influence of a western disturbance, the higher reaches of Kashmir, including the tourist resorts of Gulmarg and Sonamarg, received fresh overnight snowfall, the officials said.
They said snowfall was also reported in the upper areas of Gurez, and Kupwara, as well as along the Zojilla Pass, and Mughal Road in south Kashmir’s Shopian.
The snow on the Zojilla Pass, connecting the Srinagar-Leh national highway, has led to the suspension of traffic on the highway, the officials said.
The plains of the valley, including the summer capital here, were lashed by rains.
The wet weather has brought down the day temperature by several degrees.
Rains also led to a landslide along the Uri-Baramulla National Highway at Rajanwani in north Kashmir, the officials said, adding that traffic movement was disrupted due to the landslide.
The landslide led to the accumulation of debris and boulders on the road, bringing vehicular movement to a halt and leaving commuters stranded.
Authorities have started road clearance operations to restore traffic movement, the officials said.
According to the Meteorological Centre Srinagar, generally cloudy weather is expected on November 13, with light to moderate rain and snowfall over higher reaches at most places. Moderate to heavy rain and snowfall over higher reaches is also likely at several places till late afternoon.
A brief spell of light rain and snowfall at a few places is expected on November 14 and 15, while weather is likely to remain generally dry from November 16 to 20.
The MeT has forecast a significant fall of 6-8 degrees Celsius in day temperatures during November 12 and 13. Thunderstorms, hailstorms and gusty winds are also possible at a few places during the period.
It has advised farmers to safely store harvested crops during November 12-13, while travellers, transporters and tourists have been asked to plan their journeys accordingly, keeping in view the possibility of disruption on important mountain passes and hilly roads due to moderate to heavy snowfall.
Meanwhile, according to the data issued by the Meteorological Centre Srinagar on Thursday, Srinagar recorded a maximum temperature of 17.3 degrees Celsius and a minimum of 5.6 degrees Celsius.
Qazigund recorded a maximum of 16.7 degrees Celsius and a minimum of 5.8 degrees Celsius, while Pahalgam recorded 14.5 degrees Celsius as the maximum and 2.7 degrees Celsius as the minimum.
Kupwara recorded a maximum temperature of 17.3 degrees Celsius and a minimum of 3.7 degrees Celsius. Kokernag recorded 15 degrees Celsius and 6.4 degrees Celsius, respectively.
Gulmarg recorded a maximum temperature of 9.9 degrees Celsius, while the minimum settled at minus 0.6 degrees Celsius, making it the coldest among the weather stations in the Kashmir division.
Among other AWS stations, Bandipora recorded a maximum of 19.9 degrees Celsius and a minimum of 6.1 degrees Celsius, Baramulla 18.1 and 6.4 degrees Celsius, Shopian 16.8 and 2.2 degrees Celsius, while Sonamarg recorded 11.9 and 2.6 degrees Celsius, respectively.
The maximum rainfall/snowfall recorded was 7.5 mm at AWS Gulmarg, according to the weather bulletin.
In Jammu division, Jammu city recorded a maximum temperature of 27.6 degrees Celsius and a minimum of 15.3 degrees Celsius.
The MeT department has advised people, particularly those travelling through higher reaches and mountain passes, to remain cautious in view of the prevailing weather conditions.
