THE BIZ REPORTER

Srinagar, Feb 21: After heavy snowfall and widespread rains over the past few days, minimum temperatures have dropped at most places in Jammu and Kashmir. However, the snowfall has brought major relief from the intense cold wave conditions prevailing over the Union Territory.

According to the meteorological department, Srinagar received 5.5 cms of fresh snowfall in the last 24 hours ending at 0830 hours on Wednesday. Other areas also reported heavy snow, with Gulmarg receiving as much as 40 cms, Kokernag 59 cms, Pahalgam 50 cms and Kupwara 5 cms of snowfall.

The snowfall led Gulmarg to record a minimum temperature of minus 9.4°C against minus 4.0°C the previous night. This was 2.7°C below normal for the famous skiing destination. Srinagar, the summer capital, saw the minimum temperature drop to minus 0.0°C from minus 0.7°C the previous night.

Qazigund, the gateway town to the Kashmir valley, recorded a low of 0.0°C, same as the previous night. Pahalgam was at minus 1.6°C compared to minus 0.5°C on the earlier night. Kokernag registered a low of minus 3.4°C against 0.3°C on the previous night.

The minimum temperature in Kupwara settled at minus 0.4°C, unchanged from the earlier night. Jammu received 5.6mm rain and recorded a low of 9.2°C against the normal of 10.6°C.

The MET department has forecast further improvement in the weather across Jammu and Kashmir beginning today. No major weather activity is likely till February 27 now that the harsh 40-day period of ‘Chillai-Kalan’ has ended.