Srinagar: Fresh moderate to heavy snowfall was experienced since Friday evening in the Kashmir valley, where weather woes will continue during the next about a week as a Western Disturbance (WD) has hit the region.
Summer capital, Srinagar, also received fresh intermittent snowfall since last evening though weather witnessed some improvement as the day progressed, helping to resume air traffic.
There could be Wide Spread (WS) light to moderate snow in the Kashmir valley during the next 24 hours, a Met department spokesman said here this evening.
He said there could be fairly WS snow over Jammu and scattered over Ladakh region. During the subsequent two days there could be WS moderate to heavy rain or snow in the Jammu and Kashmir, he added.
He warned that of isolated heavy snow during the next 24 hours followed by scattered heavy snowfall during subsequent two days.
Famous ski resort of Gulmarg, where world class ski slopes are under more than three feet of white powder, received fresh snow since last night. The maximum temperature witnessed dip and settled at minus 2, about three notches below normal while the minimum temperature was minus 7 degree. The upper heights, including Kongdori, Khilanmarg and Affarwat, the highest ski point connected by Gandola Cable Car (GCC) received heavy to very heavy snowfall during the past 24 hours.
The other higher reaches in the north Kashmir, including areas near the Line of Control (LoC) also witnessed heavy snowfall, snapping surface transport in Kupwara and Bandipora.
Pahalgam, about 100 km from here, which serves as base camp for annual pilgrimage to holy Amarnath cave shrine also received fresh snowfall. Heavy to very heavy snowfall was also experienced at holy cave and its periphery, Panjterni, Sheshnag, Mahaguns, Pisso top and Chandanwari, the last motorable halting station on traditional Pahalgam track. The minimum temperature at Pahalgam was 0.7 degree while the maximum temperature today was minus 4.4 degree, which was 2.8 degree above normal due to cloudy sky.
Reports of fresh snowfall were also received from Shopian, Kulgam and Pulwama higher reaches. Pir-ki-Gali on historic Mughal road, which is closed for the past about two months, also received fresh snowfall.
Tourist resort of Sonamarg on Srinagar-Leh national highway, closed due to accumulation of snow, besides Baltal base camp, in central Kashmir district of Ganderbal also received snowfall. Fresh snowfall was also received at Kangan and other hills.
A report from central Kashmir district of Badgam said moderate to heavy snowfall was received at tourist resort of Yusmarg, Charar-e-Sharief, Phakharpora and Dudpatheri.
Srinagar city also received fresh snowfall last night and early this morning. Everything, including roof and tree tops and open fields turned white affecting air traffic and normal life. However, things become normal as the day progressed when snow started melting.
The maximum temperature in the city was 4.2 degree which was 2.2 notches below normal while the minimum temperature was minus 2 degree which was being considered normal during this period of 40-day-long Chailan Kalan which will end on January 30.
