Srinagar, Jan 13: While the higher reaches in Kashmir Valley Thursday received light snowfall with minimum temperature plummeting below zero degrees Celsius, Srinagar got relief from the chilling cold as mercury went above the freezing point for the first time this winter and settled at 1.6 degrees Celsius.
However, weatherman forecast moderate to heavy rain and snowfall in next 48 hours due to an approaching western disturbance. “The western disturbances are expected to hit Kashmir in next 48 hours resulting in moderate to heavy rain and snowfall in different parts of the state,” said an official in Meteorological Department here.
The minimum temperature in Srinagar, which went as low as minus six degrees Celsius at the beginning of Chillai Kalan (harshest period of winter) on December 21, was today two degrees above normal.
 While the Srinagar city recorded a maximum temperature of nine degrees Celsius, the higher reaches of Kashmir including Gulmarg, Pahalgam, Leh and Kargil continued to freeze under sub-zero temperatures.
 Aamir Ali, who heads the Disaster Management Cell, said there was a forecast of heavy to moderate snowfall till January 15.
 As predicted, he said, it started snowing in different parts of the Valley on Thursday evening. The areas include the ski-resort Gulmarg, Gund and Kulan areas in Ganderbal, Pahalgam and Damhal Hanjipora in South Kashmir.
 “The weather scenario is expected to prevail till morning of January 15,” he said.
 He, however, said the Srinagar-Jammu highway would remain open for traffic till weather permits.
 Meanwhile Gulmarg recorded a low of minus 8.4 degrees while Pahalgam recorded the minimum 3.2 degrees. Leh remained the coldest place in the state recording a minimum of minus 20.4 degrees and Kargil recorded a minimum of minus 15.4 degrees, weatherman said.
 The winter capital, Jammu recorded a maximum of 20.2 degrees and minimum of 5.2 degrees.
 Banihal recorded a maximum of 10.5 degrees and a minimum of 1.5 degrees.
 The frontier district of Kupwara in north Kashmir recorded a maximum of 9.5 degrees Celsius and a minimum of minus 1.9 degrees.
 The night temperature at Qazigund, the gateway town to Kashmir, was minus 2.6 degrees and the minimum temperature recorded in Kokernag town in south Kashmir’s Islamabd (Anantnag) district was minus 1.1 degrees.
 Aamir said to avoid inconvenience to people, the authorities have geared up the machinery. “We have directed Hindustan Petroleum Corporation limited, Bharat Petroleum and Indian Oil Corporation and Consumer Affairs and Public Distribution Department to maintain adequate stock of essential supplies,” he said.

Lastupdate on : Thu, 13 Jan 2011 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Thu, 13 Jan 2011 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Fri, 14 Jan 2011 00:00:00 IST