Dry Spell Nears End as Snow, Rain Likely Across J&K from Dec 20

SRINAGAR, Dec 18: The prolonged dry spell in Kashmir is likely to end from December 20, with the Meteorological Centre Srinagar forecasting snowfall over higher reaches and rain in the plains across Jammu and Kashmir.

The expected change in weather coincides with the onset of Chillai Kalan, the harshest phase of winter in the Kashmir Valley. The region has witnessed largely dry conditions since early November, raising concerns over water availability, agriculture and winter tourism.

According to the forecast, weather conditions will remain partly to generally cloudy till Friday, with the possibility of very light snowfall at isolated higher reaches of north and central Kashmir. However, a more active western disturbance is expected to impact the region from the late night of December 20.

The MeT department said December 20 and 21 are likely to see generally cloudy skies, with light to moderate snowfall over higher reaches of the Kashmir division and light to moderate rain at many places in the plains of Jammu and Kashmir. The intensity of precipitation is expected to peak between the late night of December 20 and the late afternoon of December 21.

On December 22, generally cloudy conditions with light rain or snowfall at scattered places are expected, while from December 23 to 29, the weather is likely to remain partly to generally cloudy. Another spell of light snowfall is forecast at isolated higher reaches on December 30 and 31.

The MeT Centre has warned that some higher reaches of Kupwara, Bandipora and Ganderbal districts may receive moderate to heavy snowfall, particularly on December 21, and advised travellers and transporters to plan their journeys accordingly and adhere to traffic and administrative advisories.

Meanwhile, night temperatures across Kashmir hovered near the freezing point. Srinagar recorded a minimum temperature of 0.2°C, while Qazigund and Pahalgam in south Kashmir registered 0.8°C and 0.4°C respectively. The tourist resort of Gulmarg settled at 1.6°C, officials said. (Agencies)