Srinagar: Kashmir valley received a wet spell of rain and snow mixed precipitation on Thursday amid a forecast for widespread light to moderate snowfall and rain during the next 24 hours.
As per the details analyzed by The Himalayan Post; it is snowing in north Kashmir’s Gulmarg, Tulail, Kupwara and Pahalgam, Daksum, Sinthan top, Aharbal, Shopian in the south. Also in Sonamarg.
Heavy Snow Showers are being reported across Baramulla and at Budgam’s Doodpathri.
A mix of rain and snow is also being reported in Srinagar’s Harwan, Anantnag’s Kokernag, and Verinag.
Other districts of the valley including Srinagar continued to receive rains till the report was being filed.
However, The Himalayan Post has learned that this Chillai-Kalan (40-day harshest-winter period), heavy snowfall occurred only along the upper reaches of the valley and the first heavy snowfall in Srinagar befell on the first day of Chilli khurd (20-day mild cold period).
Moreover, data compiled by the Meteorological department Srinagar and reported by KNO said that this year from January 01-February 08, six districts of Jammu and Kashmir including Srinagar recorded deficient rainfall.
J&K recorded abrupt above-normal and below-normal shifts e.g. generally the two different divisions recorded 143.5 mm which is 14 percent above normal against 125.5 mm but separately, its six districts including Srinagar, Budgam, Bandipora, Shopian, Jammu, Kathua got deficient rainfall, it said.
The data said that Srinagar logged 91.3 mm rainfall against 113.5 mm normal rainfall, indicating 20 percent deficient rainfall from January 01 this year to February 08.
Against 88.6 mm of normal rainfall, Budgam in central Kashmir recorded 53.7 mm of rainfall against 95.3 mm, Bandipora recorded only 54.8mm of rainfall, which is 43 percent deficient rainfall, and Shopian recorded only 37.8 mm against 60.9 mm.
Jammu and Kathua districts have also recorded 41 and 38 percent deficient rainfall respectively, the data added.
Moreover, excess rainfall was recorded from Anantnag, Doda, Kulgam, Poonch, Pulwama, Rajouri, Ramban, and normal rainfall from Ganderbal, Kishtwar, Samba, Kupwara, Reasi, and Udhampur.
Director Meteorological department, Sonum Lotus said that there is a possibility of widespread light to moderate snowfall and rain in J&K with chances of heavy snowfall over higher reaches from tomorrow afternoon till 10th February.
The night temperature plummeted again, and Pahalgam recorded a low of minus 7.6 degrees Celsius. Srinagar minus 0.1 degrees Celsius while Gulmarg recorded a low of minus 6.5 degrees Celsius.
