Parts of Kashmir Valley received light snowfall on Wednesday even as local meteorological department predicted wet weather across Jammu and Kashmir, cautioning that it may disrupt transport on Srinagar-Jammu highway, the only surface link connecting Valley with the rest of the world.According to a Meteorological Department official, there was very light snowfall at Srinagar (0.8mm) Pahalgam (4.0mm) while Kupwara and Kokernag received 2mm while Gulmarg had 3.2mm of snow from 0830 hours to 1730 hours.“We expect light to moderate snowfall from today (evening) at most places of Jammu and Kashmir and some places of Ladakh with the peak on January 31,” Director MeT Sonam Lotus said.He said that rains and snow may affect Srinagar -Jammu highway especially Banihal -Ramban axis tonight and tomorrow.Meanwhile, the mercury rose in Kashmir last night with Srinagar, the summer capital of the state, recording a low of minus 0.3 degrees Celsius against minus 5.4 degrees Celsius on the previous night.Pahalgam, which serves as base camp for the annual Amarnath Yatra in south Kashmir, witnessed increase by nearly 10 degrees as mercury settled at minus 3.3 degrees Celsius.
The MeT official said Qazigund the gateway town to the valley in south Kashmir recorded a low of minus 2.0 degrees Celsius against 7.8 degrees Celsius on previous night while the nearby Kokernag town registered a low of minus 3.4 degrees Celsius against 7.3 degrees Celsius on previous night.The ski-resort of Gulmarg in north Kashmir recorded the minimum temperature of minus 7.5 against 12. 2 degrees Celsius on previous while Kupwara in north Kashmir recorded a low of minus 2.5 against minus 7.8 degrees Celsius, he said.Kashmir is currently under the grip of 'Chillai-Kalan' the 40-day harshest period of winter when the chances of snowfall are most frequent and maximum and the temperature drops considerably.'Chillai-Kalan' ends today but the cold wave continues even after that in Kashmir.The 40-day period is followed by a 20-day long 'Chillai-Khurd' (small cold) and a 10-day long 'Chillai-Bachha' (baby cold). (GNS)