Minimum temperatures throughout Jammu and Kashmir rose on Thursday due to partial nightlong cloud cover even as the weather office forecast heavy rains and snow in the state between December 11 and 15.The weather office also revised the minimum temperature parameter for Pahalgam town, saying the minimum temperature was minus 1.3.It is "minus 1.3 and not 1.3... The error communicated in our earlier report is regretted", an official from the weather office said.Sonam Lotus, Director of the MET department, said: "A western disturbance is most likely to become active in Jammu and Kashmir from December 11."Under the influence of this western disturbance, we are expecting moderate to heavy rainfall in the plains of Jammu region and snowfall in the hills of Jammu region."Moderate to heavy snowfall is likely to occur in the (Kashmir) Valley and Ladakh region."
Lotus said this disturbance would remain active mainly between December 11 and 14 and will start weakening from December 15."Air and surface traffic is likely to get disrupted because of the inclement weather between 11th and 15th of this month."Meanwhile, because of partial nightlong cloud cover, the minimum temperatures improved in all the three regions of Jammu and Kashmir on Thursday."Jammu city and Leh town had witnessed this season's coldest night on Wednesday at 6.4 and minus 13.6 degrees Celsius respectively."The minimum temperatures at both these places and also elsewhere in the state showed improvement because of the partial cloud cover during the night, the Director's statement said.Minimum temperature was 7.1 and minus 7 in Jammu city and Leh town respectively. Kargil town also recorded minus 7 as the minimum against Wednesday's minus 7.5.Night's lowest temperature was minus 2.7 in Srinagar city on Thursday. It was minus 1.3 in Pahalgam and minus 2.5 in Gulmarg.Elsewhere in Jammu region, Katra town recorded 9.0, Batote 5.9, Bannihal 5.1, Bhaderwah 4.4 and Udhampur 3.8 as the minimum temperatures on Thursday.