Higher reaches of Kashmir on Saturday received fresh snowfall and plains rains.
The weatherman predicted further precipitation in the next 24 hours.
Senior superintendent of police Ajaz Ahmad told Greater Kashmir traffic on Jammu-Srinagar highway has been suspended because of heavy snowfall at Jawahar Tunnel and heavy rains at many other places along the road.
Meteorological department officials said here that the upper reaches of Kashmir, including the ski resort of Gulmarg in Baramulla district, received fresh snowfall, while as rains lashed other plains including Srinagar.
The Valley has been witnessing one of the driest periods in its history. Rains have been so deficient since June last year that authorities had begun to tap underground water sources to meet the demand for drinking water.
They said that the night temperature improved because of rains and settled above the freezing point at the majority of places in Kashmir.
Fresh snowfall was recorded in Gulmarg, Phalgam and SonamargSadhna top, Z-Gali and Phirkiyan areas.
Higher reaches of Chenab Valley and surrounding villages of Bhadarwah town received snow and rain, throwing normal life out of gear in this high-altitude area of the state.
Light snow or rain would occur at many places in the state during the next 24 hours, MeT officials said.
The officials said night temperature at Gulmarg improved by over 2 degrees from Thursday and settled at minus 2 degrees Celsius, which is 5 degrees above normal at this time of the year. Pahalgam recorded minus 2.3 degrees Celsius.
Due to fresh rains, MeT officials said that the mercury in Srinagar during the night surged about 4 degrees from Friday and settled at 5.5 degrees Celsius, which is about 5 degree above normal.
The authorities have also issued avalanche warning for next 24 hours. They said medium-danger avalanche warning has been issued for Baramulla, Gulmarg, Firkiyan, Z Gali, Kupwara, Chowkibal and Tangdhar.
Low-danger warning has been issued for Poonch, Rajouri, Reasi, Ramban, Doda, KishtwarUdhampur, Anantnag, Kulgam, Budgam, Kupwara, Bandipora, Ganderbal, Kargil, Leh, Bandipora, Kanzalwan-Gurez and along the Srinagar-Jammu highway.
People living in these avalanche prone areas have been advised by the disaster management authority to take precautionary measures.