Srinagar, January 27: The higher altitudes of Kashmir witnessed light rain and snowfall in the past 24 hours, bringing relief from the extended dry spell in the region, as per officials on Saturday. The Meteorological (MeT) department has forecasted wet weather in the area until February 3.
The accumulation of snow has led to the closure of the Mughal Road, connecting Poonch and Rajouri districts in the Jammu region with south Kashmir’s Shopian district, and the Srinagar-Leh highway on Saturday. A traffic official confirmed the closure, citing the snow accumulation.
The MeT predicts partly to generally cloudy weather with the possibility of light snow at isolated higher reaches towards late evening on Saturday. From January 28-29, the forecast indicates generally cloudy conditions with the potential for light to moderate rain or snow in many places. The subsequent two days may see light to moderate rain or snow in various locations.
Due to the wet weather forecast, the MeT warned of potential temporary closures of roads in higher reaches and crucial passes like Sinthan Pass, Mughal Road, Sadhna, Razdan Pass, and Zojila, particularly during January 28-31. Travelers are advised to plan accordingly.
The 40-day long period of harsh winter cold, known as ‘Chillai Kalan,’ is concluding on December 30, and the region has not witnessed any significant snowfall so far. Meanwhile, Srinagar recorded a minimum temperature of minus 2.3 degrees Celsius, Gulmarg recorded minus 6.4 °C, and Pahalgam recorded minus 5.1 degrees last night. Jammu recorded a minimum of 7.0°C, below normal by 1.7°C.
