Srinagar: Minimum temperatures dropped further in the Kashmir Valley and the Ladakh region on Friday as the weather office forecast widespread rain and snow during the next 48 hours.
An India Meteorological Department (IMD) official said moderate rain and snow is likely to occur in Jammu and Kashmir from Friday evening.
“Inclement weather during the next 48 hours can affect surface connectivity between the Valley and outside,” the official said.
The minimum temperature was minus 3.2 degree Celsius in Srinagar while it was minus 6.8 and minus 10 in Pahalgam and Gulmarg respectively.
Kargil town recorded minus 18.6 degree, the lowest in this season so far. Leh recorded a minimum temperature of minus 14.5 degree.
Jammu city had 4.5 degree Celsius, Katra 5.8, Batote 1.1, Bannihal 2.7 and Bhaderwah minus 2 as the night’s lowest temperatures.
A detailed weather advisory issued by Deputy Director MeT, Dr Mukhtar Ahmad reads that rains and snow is expected at widespread places of Jammu and Kashmir including Ladakh.
Mukhtar said that there is possibility of rain and snow across Jammu and Kashmir, adding that the wet spell would also lead to disruption in surface transport on major highways.
“A fresh western disturbance will most likely affect the state of Jammu and Kashmir from evening of January 1 to 2,” Mukhtar said, adding that under the influence of this system, there is possibility of light rain or snow in plains and moderate rain or snow in upper reaches at widespread places across the State.
Mukhtar added that another western disturbance (WD) will most likely affect the state from evening of January 4 to 6, adding that similarly under its influence, there is possibility of moderate rain or snowfall at widespread places of Jammu and Kashmir including Ladakh, saying that there is possibility of heavy snowfall at isolated places with maximum intensity and spread on 4 and 5 January and gradual decrease thereafter.
