SRINAGAR: Upper reaches of Kashmir valley received light snowfall on Thursday even as temperature rose considerably across J&K due to the overnight cloud cover with most places in Kashmir Valley recording above-sub-zero temperature.
An official said that 2-3 inches of snowfall were reported in Gulmarg, Tangmarg and Baba Reshi in north Kashmir’s Baramulla district till 4 am this morning.
In neighbouring Bandipora district, 12 cm of fresh snow had accumulated at Sadhna pass while 10 cm snow each had accumulated at Furkain and Z Gali forcing closure of Bandipora-Gurez road, official said.
The summer capital of J&K recorded a low of 2.6 against last night’s minus 1.8°C. It was after several days that the mercury rose above normal sub-zero level and today’s temperature was 4.6°C above normal for this time of the year.
Kashmir is presently under the 40-day long harshest period of winter, known locally as ‘Chillai Kalan, which started from December 21. It is followed by a 20-day long ‘Chillai Khurd’ and a 10-day-long ‘Chilla Bachha’.
The mercury in the world famous resort of Gulmarg in north Kashmir’s Baramulla district settled at minus 3.7°C against minus 4.0°C on the previous night, the official said. It was 2.1°C above normal for the famous resort which is presently teeming with visitors.
Qazigund, the gateway town of Kashmir, had a low of 0.8°C against minus 3.°C on the previous night, he said.
Pahalgam, the famous resort in south Kashmir, recorded a low of 0.3°C against minus 5.2°C on previous night.
Kokernag, also in south Kashmir, recorded a low of 0.7°C against minus 1.9°C on previous night, the official said.
Kupwara town in north Kashmir recorded a minimum of 2.6°C against minus 2.9°C on the previous night, the official said.
Jammu, the J&K’s winter capital, saw a low of 9.3°C which is 6.8°C below normal, he said.
Ladakh’s Leh had a low of minus 6.6°C against last night’s minus 12.4°C while automatic Kargil station recorded minimum of minus 6.1°C. Drass in Kargil, the second coldest place in the world after Siberia, recorded a low of minus 9.6°C, the official said.
