Snowy day forecast in Kashmir Valley, mountains
December 19th, 2011 - 3:55 pm ICT by IANSSrinagar, Dec 19 (IANS) The Kashmir Valley is likely to get moderate snowfall and the higher reaches witness witness heavy snowfall Tuesday, the weather office here has forecast and advised all travellers to exercise caution.
“Because of a persisting western disturbance, we are expecting moderate snowfall in the plains while some of the Valley’s higher reaches could experience heavy snowfall tomorrow,” the weather office said Monday in a statement.
The valley has been reeling under a severe cold wave for the last fortnight and the expected rain and snowfall are likely to bring relief by raising the night temperatures which have remained much below the freezing point during this period.
The weather office, however, said day temperatures in the valley are likely to fall substantially during this period.
“The inclement weather conditions are expected to continue for two days beginning Tuesday,” Sonam Lotus, director of the local meteorological office, told IANS here.
Lotus also issued a travel advisory asking those undertaking the Srinagar-Jammu journey Tuesday and Wednesday to exercise caution.
“Those intending to travel must consult the local traffic authorities before undertaking the journey.”
“Since the Srinagar-Jammu highway passes through the Pir Panjal mountain range, it is likely there could be a rather heavy snowfall in the range Tuesday,” Lotus said.
The minimum temperature in Srinagar city Monday was 3.4 degrees Celsius below the freezing point. It was minus 5.4 in the south Kashmir hill station of Pahalgam, while the north Kashmir ski resort of Gulmarg saw the mercury plummet to minus 6.8 degrees.
Leh, Ladakh’s capital town, was again the coldest place in the state Monday at minus 13.2 degrees while the Kargil town also in the Ladakh region had a minimum of minus 12.0 degrees Celsius.
Most of the rain and snowfall in the valley during the winter months occurs because of western disturbances.
‘Western Disturbance’ is a term used in India, Pakistan, Nepal and Bangladesh to describe an extra-tropical storm originating in the Mediterranean Sea which results in sudden rain and snow in South Asia.
Western disturbances are important for the development of Rabi (winter) crops such as wheat in the region.
- Night temperatures rise marginally in Kashmir, Ladakh - Jan 03, 2012
- Rain and snow to lash Kashmir beginning Wednesday - Jan 02, 2012
- Srinagar's night temperature rises above freezing point - Feb 03, 2012
- Major snowfall in Srinagar in coming days - Jan 12, 2012
- Winter knocking at Kashmir's door - Oct 22, 2011
- Srinagar sees coldest night in 16 years, more snow expected (Lead) - Jan 14, 2012
- Srinagar has coldest night in 16 years - Jan 14, 2012
- Kashmir and Ladakh in deep freeze, Leh coldest at minus 22 - Jan 23, 2012
- Snowfall forecast in Kashmir in early February - Jan 31, 2012
- Dal Lake freezes in sub-zero Kashmir - Jan 12, 2012
- Rains, snow break long dry spell in Kashmir - Dec 07, 2011
- Fresh snowfall likely in Kashmir - Feb 12, 2012
- Chill continues in Kashmir, snow and rain likely - Jan 28, 2011
- Valley, Ladakh in for another cold wave spell - Dec 21, 2011
- Kashmir shivers in freezing temperatures - Nov 26, 2011
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