Srinagar, Mar 13: Kashmir Valley remained under the grip of intermittent rainfall for the fourth consecutive day on Thursday, while the higher reaches, including the famed ski resort of Gulmarg, received a fresh spell of snowfall over the past 24 hours.
According to the Meteorological Centre Srinagar, the wet weather conditions are expected to persist across Jammu and Kashmir until the weekend. Intermittent showers lashed Srinagar and other parts of the valley, leading to a drop in temperatures and disrupting daily activities. The precipitation continued in multiple areas, affecting normal life.
Several high-altitude regions, including Gulmarg, witnessed light snowfall, adding to the existing snow cover. As per the MeT department, Srinagar recorded the highest precipitation in the past 24 hours at 10.6 mm, followed by Kupwara (9.1 mm), Pahalgam (5.8 mm), and Gulmarg (5.6 mm).
The MeT office has predicted light to moderate rain and snow at several locations over the next 24 hours, with intermittent precipitation likely to persist on March 15 and 16. However, the weather is expected to turn dry between March 17 and 21, providing some respite.
In light of the ongoing weather conditions, the MeT department has issued advisories urging travelers, tourists, and transporters to follow administrative and traffic updates before planning their journeys. Farmers have been advised to suspend agricultural activities until March 18, while residents of high-altitude areas have been cautioned against venturing into slippery and avalanche-prone zones.
Despite the continuous precipitation, night temperatures in Kashmir remained 2 to 3°C above normal at several weather stations. However, day temperatures, though slightly improved, remained below the seasonal average.
In Srinagar, the maximum temperature on Wednesday stood just 0.1°C above normal at 15.1°C, while the minimum temperature recorded during the intervening night of Wednesday and Thursday dropped slightly to 7.0°C, which was 3.3°C above the seasonal average.
The ski resort of Gulmarg remained the coldest place in the valley, with a minimum temperature of -0.8°C, though it was still 2.5°C above normal for this time of the season. Other recorded temperatures included Pahalgam at 2.5°C and Kokernag at 5.4°C.
Authorities continue to monitor the situation closely, urging people to remain cautious in affected areas as inclement weather conditions persist across the valley.