Woollens are out as rains and snow plunged temperature in Kashmir Valley with Kupwara recording highest drop of 10 degrees Celsius in mercury than normal on Saturday.An official of the local meteorological department here told GNS that as predicted, western disturbance has hit the Valley and under its influence there were rains in plains and snowfall in upper reaches including Gulmarg.The world famous ski-resort in north Kashmir’s Baramulla district had a rain or snowfall equivalent to 15.8mm from 8:30 am-5:30pm, he said. However, official sources said that there are reports of moderate snowfall in upper reaches of Gulmarg including Affarwat and adjoining areas. Due to the snow, the temperature plunged by 7 degrees in the health resort, recording at 6.4 degrees Celsius.The official said snowfall was recorded at Zojilla and Peerkigali as well as other upper reaches of the Valley.
Meanwhile, the meteorological department official said that the frontier district of Kupwara recorded highest drop of 10 degree Celsius in day temperature while as it recorded a rainfall of 10mm during the day, highest in plains of the Valley.Srinagar, the summer capital of the state, recorded a drop of 8 degrees Celsius in maximum temperature as a rainfall of 1.9mm lashed it since morning. It recorded maximum of 13 degrees Celsius, the official added. Qazigund, the gateway town to Kashmir, recorded a maximum of 15.2 degrees Celsius while Pahalgam tourist resort recorded maximum of 13 degree Celsius and adjoining Kokernag had maximum of 13.3 degrees Celsius.
Pahalgam had a rainfall of 1.44mm, Kokernag had traces while there was no rainfall in Qazigund, the official added.The weather office here has already issued an advisory, warning moderate to heavy rains in plains and snowfall over the higher reaches till October 27 in the state.“The weather condition may trigger landslides and blockage of roads in vulnerable areas of the state, particularly along Srinagar-Jammu, Srinagar-Leh and Leh-Manali highways,” the weatherman department said, adding that the weather system may also disrupt surface and air transport. (GNS)