Gulmarg coldest place in Kashmir, MeT predicts snowfall in JK and Ladakh

Srinagar, Oct 20 : The ski resort of Gulmarg on Wednesday experience coldest night of the season with the night temperature plunging to 1.5 degree Celsius even as the weather observatory predicted a fresh moderate rain and snowfall over the Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh regions from October 22 to 24, it was reported on Wednesday.
A Meteorological official said the famous ski resort of Gulmarg in North Kashmir experienced the coldest night this season so far on Wednesday as temperatures dipped to 1.5 degrees Celsius which was 1.4 degree below normal with breezy conditions prevailing in the valley of meadow.
Official sources said, the sky was overcast at Gulmarg with cold cool breeze blowing around.
Meanwhile, a fresh advisory suggested that an active western disturbance is likely to hit the Jammu and Kashmir, Ladakh and its adjoining areas on October 22 to 24 which will cause moderate to light rain or snow in the Union Territory and its upper reaches, the MeT official said.
He said there is possibility of light snow and rain in plains while moderate snow will occur on the middle reaches and heavy snow at isolated places over higher reaches of Kashmir division.
He said heavy snowfall is likely to occur on the upper reaches of tourist destinations like Gulmarg, Pahalgam, Sonamarg and Zojila pass on the Ladakh highway besides Baramulla, Bandipora in north Kashmir and Pirpanjal range of mountains of Jammu division. Drass, Gumri, Zanaskar in Ladakh Union Territory (UT) will also experience moderate to light snowfall, MeT added.
The MeT office said occurrence of snow may lead to temporary disruption of air and surface traffic on the Jammu-Srinagar-Leh and Leh-Manali highways besides the Mughal road and other major hilly roads are likely to be affected.
It has warned of landslides and shooting of stones in vulnerable places of Jammu –Srinagar –Leh national highways.
Meanwhile, the horticulture department in Kashmir valley has advised orchardists to harvest all apples before the snowfall directs them to go for necessary branch cutting to save the trees from damage, as a warning was issued by the MeT office that snowfall may damage their orchard fields.
Meanwhile, night temperature continues to fall across the Kashmir Valley with Srinagar recording a minimum temperature of 6.3 degree Celsius, a few notches below normal, an official of the local MeT said.
He said Qazigund recorded a low of 6.8 degree Celsius, Pahalgam, the famous resort in south Kashmir, recorded a low of 2.7 degree Celsius, which was 2. 1 degree below normal, the MeT office added.

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