The prolonged dry spell in Kashmir will likely come to an end on the eve of Chille Kalan, as the Meteorological Department has forecast snowfall in higher reaches and rain in the plains. This change comes after nearly two weeks of dry weather.
An official from the Meteorological Department (MeT) confirmed that from December 18 to 19, the weather will be partly to generally cloudy, with a chance of very light snowfall at isolated higher areas in North and Central Kashmir.
The official indicated that a more significant weather event is expected with an active western disturbance impacting the region from late December 20 to December 21. This will bring light to moderate snowfall in higher reaches of the Kashmir division and light to moderate rain in many areas across Jammu and Kashmir.
The forecast for December 22 predicts generally cloudy conditions, with light rain or snowfall in scattered places. From December 23 to 29, the weather is expected to remain partly to generally cloudy, with generally cloudy conditions forecast again on December 30 and 31, potentially leading to light snowfall in isolated higher areas.
Snowfall Advisory Issued
The MeT Department has issued a crucial advisory warning that some higher reaches, particularly in the Kupwara, Bandipora, and Ganderbal districts, may experience moderate to heavy snowfall, especially on December 21. The department advised travelers and transporters to plan their journeys wisely and adhere to traffic and administrative advisories, ensuring safety amid the forecasted weather changes.
Temperatures Above Normal
In the meantime, temperatures across Jammu and Kashmir have predominantly remained above normal. Srinagar recorded a maximum temperature of 10.6°C, about 1.2°C above average, whereas the minimum dipped to 0.2°C. Gulmarg reported a maximum of 8.8°C, nearly 4°C above normal, with a minimum of 1.6°C.
In north Kashmir, Kupwara saw maximum temperatures reaching 10.8°C and a minimum of -1.0°C. Meanwhile, Pahalgam recorded 11.2°C and 0.4°C, while Qazigund hit 13.0°C and 0.8°C. In the Jammu region, Jammu city logged a maximum of 22.3°C and a minimum of 11.0°C. Notably, the MeT Department reported that no rainfall occurred at any station in the past 24 hours, marking a continued dry spell before the anticipated weather changes.
