SRINAGAR, Mar 29: A fresh spell of snowfall across several high-altitude areas of Kashmir has disrupted surface connectivity, forcing the closure of major routes, while continuous rainfall affected the plains on Sunday, officials said.
According to the meteorological department, the change in weather has been caused by an ակտիվ western disturbance influencing the region. Prominent tourist and mountainous locations such as Gulmarg, Pahalgam, Yousmarg, Gurez, Razdan Top, and the Sonamarg-Zojila stretch experienced light to moderate snowfall overnight.
The accumulation of snow led to the suspension of traffic on the Srinagar-Leh National Highway as well as the Bandipora-Gurez road, impacting travel and movement in these areas.
Meanwhile, widespread rainfall was recorded across the valley’s plains, including Srinagar city. The showers, which occurred intermittently in several areas, contributed to a noticeable rise in night temperatures. Srinagar registered a minimum temperature of 10.3°C, significantly above the seasonal average.
Meteorological officials noted that minimum temperatures across the valley remained 3 to 5 degrees above normal due to persistent cloud cover.
Looking ahead, weather conditions are expected to remain unstable. Intermittent spells of light to moderate rain in lower areas and snowfall in higher reaches are likely to continue until Monday night. Gusty winds with speeds reaching 40–50 kmph and occasional thunder are also expected.
Some higher reaches of north and central Kashmir may receive moderate snowfall during this period, the department added.
The outlook for March 31 indicates generally cloudy skies with brief spells of light precipitation at scattered locations. Between April 1 and 2, isolated areas may experience short spells of light rain. Further ahead, from April 3 to 7, occasional light rain or snow is expected at scattered places.
In view of the prevailing conditions, the meteorological department has advised farmers to temporarily halt agricultural activities until Monday.