Higher reaches of the Valley received a light spell of snowfall last night, while the Meteorological Department predicted weather to remain dry till January 4.
Light snowfall accompanied by gusty winds lashed parts of south Kashmir and Pir Panchal region. People in these parts woke up to a blanket of fresh snow on Monday morning. Ski-resort Gulmarg also received a fresh spell of snowfall. Almost four inches of snowfall at both ends of the Jawahar Tunnel on the 270-kilometre Srinagar-Jammu National Highway caused suspension of traffic for a few hours.
However, traffic officials said traffic was restored later in the day. Katra also received the first snowfall of the season. Besides, Kishtwar, Batote and Patni Top also received a fresh spell of snowfall, MeT officials said.
Deputy Director MeT, Mukhtar Ahmad, told the Greater Kashmir that the weather was likely to remain dry till January 4 while temperatures will continue to drop below the freezing-point during the next few days. “We may witness rainy weather conditions between January 5 and 6,” Ahmad said.
Temperatures:
The minimum temperatures across Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh improved on Monday due to a cloud cover. Srinagar recorded 0.6 degrees Celsius, Pahalgam minus 1.3 degrees and Gulmarg minus 6.5 degrees minimum temperatures on Sunday night. The minimum temperature rose above the freezing point in Srinagar after a fortnight.
Leh town recorded minus 7.4 degrees, Kargil minus 12.8 and Drass minus 14.2 degrees as the Sunday night minimum temperatures.
Jammu city recorded 6.4 degrees, Katra 4 degrees, Batote minus 1.7 degrees, Banihal minus 0.2 degrees and Bhaderwah minus 0.2 degrees minimum temperatures on Sunday night.
The Valley has been reeling under a cold wave as it is witnessing the 40-day harshest winter of Chillai Kalan when a cold wave grips the region and the temperature drops considerably leading to the freezing of water bodies including the Dal Lake as well as the water supply lines in several parts of the valley. The chances of snowfall are most frequent and maximum during this period and most areas, especially in the higher reaches, receive heavy snowfall.
Traffic from Jammu to Srinagar on highway on Tuesday:
Meanwhile, as per the traffic advisory, subject to fair weather conditions, Light Motor Vehicles (passengers) will be allowed from Jammu towards Srinagar on the 270-kilometer Srinagar-Jammu National Highway on Tuesday. Following the snowfall, the historic Mughal road has been closed for traffic movement and there will be no traffic allowed to ply on Tuesday on this road. While on Srinagar-Leh road, there will be one-way traffic allowed from Kargil towards Srinagar on Tuesday, traffic officials said.