Rehan Showkat
Srinagar, June 18 : Rains drenched Kashmir Valley while some higher reaches including Amarnath cave witnessed light snowfall on Saturday, bringing mercury down in Jammu in Kashmir.
A meteorological department official here told GNS that rains continued in Srinagar and other parts of the Valley since morning. He said that there was light snowfall on some higher reaches including Amarnath cave shrine.
There was considerable drop in the day temperature with Srinagar recording a maximum of 19.3°C, almost 9°C below normal. Jammu city also witnessed a drop in the mercury with winter capital recording a maximum of 31.3°C which was 7°C below normal for this time of the season, he said.
The weatherman has already predicted “erratic weather” with intermittent rain or snow over higher reaches and passes etc in Jammu and Kashmir till June 21.
“Generally cloudy weather is expected with intermittent rain/snow over higher reaches, passes etc from today till June 21st and improvement thereafter,” the official said.
In view of the forecast, the meteorological department has asked farmers to avoid spray in orchards till June 22. “Rain may lead to shooting stones in vulnerable areas. Watch and drive carefully,” the official said.
Earlier the official said that Srinagar recorded a low of 15.1°C, the same as on the previous night. The temperature, he said, was 0.3°C above normal during this time of the year for the summer capital which received 0.1mm of rain overnight.
Qazigund recorded a low of 13.0°C against 13.6°C on the previous night. The temperature was 0.3°C ‘below’ normal for the gateway town of Kashmir, he told Global News Service.
Pahalgam recorded a minimum of 10.4°C against 9.4°C on the previous night. The temperature was 1.9°C above normal for the famous resort in south Kashmir during this time of the season, he said.
Kokernag recorded a low of 11.8°C against 12.3°C on the previous night. It was 1.3°C ‘below’ normal for the place in south Kashmir during this time of the season, the official said.
Gulmarg recorded a low of 6.0°C against 5.7°C on the previous night, the official said. While 9.3°C is normal for the world famous skiing resort during this time of the season, the official said that the temperature was 3.3°C below normal for the famous place in north Kashmir’s Baramulla district.
Kupwara town in north Kashmir recorded a low of 12.5°C against 12.1°C on the previous night. The temperature was 0.3°C above normal for the district, the official said.
Jammu recorded a low of 24.4°C against 21.0°C on the previous night, the official said.
The temperature was 1.1°C ‘below’ normal for J&K’s winter capital, he said. Banihal recorded a low of 14.2°C, Batote recorded a low of 16.6°C, Katra 22.6°C while Bhadarwah had a minimum of 15.6°C, the official said. (GNS)
