SRINAGAR: Weatherman on Wednesday forecast “extended wet spell” in Jammu and Kashmir from Saturday night onwards till afternoon of February 21.

 “A couple of moderate to intense Western Disturbances most likely to affect J&K and adjoining areas from February 17 afternoon onwards,” a meteorological department official here told GNS.

Under the influence of the weather Systems, he said, an “extended wet spell” is likely from February 17 (night) onwards till February 21 (Afternoon) most likely over J&K and adjoining areas.

In Kashmir Valley, he said, partly to generally cloudy with possibility of light snow at isolated higher reaches is expected towards late Saturday night.

On February 18, he said, generally cloudy weather with possibility of light to moderate rain and snow is expected at many places.

From February 19-20, he said, there is possibility of light to moderate rain and snow at most places (plains and lower reaches) with possibility of heavy snowfall over middle and higher reaches of Kupwara, Baramulla, Bandipora, Ganderbal, Badgam, Shopian and Kulgam districts during late afternoon of February 19 to February 20 late night.

From February 21, he said, there is possibility of light to moderate snow at many places till afternoon and late afternoon and gradual improvement thereafter.

Regarding Jammu division, he said, there is possibility of light rain and snow at many places on Sunday.

 From 19th-20th Feb, there is possibility of intermittent light to moderate rain with thunder/lightning in plains of Jammu Division with light to moderate snowfall over higher reaches and heavy snowfall over isolated higher reaches of Ramban, Poonch, Doda and Kishtwar.”

On February 21, he said, light to moderate snow/rain/thunder/lightning is expected over many places till late afternoon and evening and gradual improvement thereafter.

The MeT office also issued advisory, saying that the system may lead to temporary closure of roads of higher reaches and important passes like Sinthan pass, Mughal Road, Sadhna, Razdan pass, Zojila etc.

“Travellers are advised to plan accordingly,” the MeT official said, adding, “farmers are advised to withheld irrigation and fertilizer application and drain out excess water from Orchards and fields during the above period.”

He said significant drop in day temperature is expected during the period.

Regarding temperature, he said, Srinagar recorded a low of minus 3.0°C against previous night’s minus 2.0°C and it was below normal by 3.2°C for the summer capital of J&K for this time of the year.

Qazigund recorded a minimum of minus 2.0°C against minus 1.2°C on the previous night and it was 1.0°C below normal for the gateway town of Kashmir, the MeT official said.

Pahalgam recorded a low of minus 5.2°C against minus 5.4°C on the previous night and it was 0.2°C below normal for the famous resort in south Kashmir.

Kokernag, also in south Kashmir, recorded a minimum of minus 0.2°C against minus 0.3°C on the previous night and the temperature was above normal by 1.3°C for the place, the official said.

Kupwara town in north Kashmir recorded a low of minus 3.4°C against minus 4.5°C on the previous night and it was 2.2°C below normal there, the official said.

Gulmarg, the official said, recorded a low of minus 4.2°C against minus 4.5°C on the previous night and the temperature was above normal by 2.0°C for the world famous skiing resort in north Kashmir.

Jammu, he said, recorded a minimum of 8.1°C and it was below normal by 2.0°C for the winter capital of J&K.

Banihal recorded a low of 4.2°C, Batote 0.6°C and Bhaderwah 1.6°C, he said.

As ‘Chillai-Kalan’, the 40-day harsh period of winter ended on January 29, Kashmir is presently in the middle of 20-day-long winter period called ‘Chillai-Khurd’ that ends on February 19 and is followed by a 10-day-long period ‘Chillai-Bachha’ (baby cold) which starts from February 20 to March 1. (GNS)

SRINAGAR: Amid the frequent wet spells in Jammu and Kashmir this month, the summer capital of the Union Territory, Srinagar has broken all previous records as for the first time since 1891, the station has received a precipitation of 187.2 mm.

It has been after 131 years that Srinagar has witnessed such a huge precipitation in July month.

Independent Weather Forecaster, Faizan Arif Keng told the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) that Srinagar records wettest July in at least 131 years, saying that the Rambagh Observatory in Srinagar received the highest total rainfall in July since its establishment in 1891, recording 187.2 mm of rainfall this July.

“The majority of this rainfall occurred during three spells: 20.0 mm on 08 July, 50.6 mm on 20 July, and 53.4 mm on 27 July,” he said, adding that before this year, the highest-ever rainfall recorded in the month of July was 182.6 mm in 1988.

Some of the areas in the Valley also received record-breaking precipitation in the month of July, he said, adding that Qazigund in South Kashmir has recorded the highest rainfall in this month in 28 years.

A total rainfall of 197.7 mm was recorded in July 2023 at Qazigund, he said, adding that the previous record and all-time record is 280.1 mm in 1995, saying that the highest rainfall has been recorded since 1996.

In Pahalgam, a precipitation of 225.5 mm was recorded in July 2023 while the previous & all-time record is 232.6 mm in 2021, adding that this month’s precipitation is the second highest rainfall since the weather observatory was set up in 1978 or 2nd highest rainfall in 45 years.

At Kokernag, highest rainfall was recorded in the last eight years as a total rainfall of 198.0 mm was recorded in July 2023 while the previous record was 204.3 mm in 2015.

However, he said that the all-time record in Kokernag is 246.2 mm in 1995, therefore, the area has received the highest rainfall since 2016.

In Gulmarg, highest rainfall has been recorded in the last 13 years as a total rainfall of 144.8 mm was recorded in July 2023, he said, adding that the previous record was 220.9 mm in 2010 and the all-time record is 255.3 mm in 1993. “Therefore, Gulmarg a famous ski-resort has recorded highest rainfall since 2011,” he said. (KNO)

SRINAGAR: More rains lashed Jammu and Kashmir even as weather department here on Saturday forecast “fairly widespread light to moderate” rain and thunderstorm during the next 24 hours.

A meteorological department official here told GNS that “isolated to scattered light rain/thunderstorm” was expected during subsequent two days in J&K. 

Regarding the rainfall in last 24 hours till 8:30 a.m. today, he said, Srinagar recorded 11.7mm, Qazigund 1.2mm, Pahalgam 8.1mm, Kupwara 8.8mm, Kokernag 2.4mm, Gulmarg 7.2mm, Jammu 33.8mm, Banihal traces, Batote 1.1mm, Katra 19.6mm, and Bhaderwah 9.8mm.  

As regards temperature, he said, Srinagar recorded a low of Srinagar recorded a low of 16.3°C, Qazigund 16.6°C, Pahalgam 13.2°C, Kupwara town 14.8°C, Kokernag 16.7°C, Gulmarg 14.8°C, Jammu 24.5°C, Banihal 17.3°C, Batote 18.0°C, Katra 21.5°C and Bhaderwah 18.2°C, the official added. (GNS)

SRINAGAR: Weather department on Tuesday morning forecast intermittent light to moderate rain at many places of Jammu and Kashmir during the next 24 hours. 

A meteorological department official here told GNS that a brief spell of rain and thunderstorm was expected at scattered places towards evening on May 3. 

From May 4-6, he said, “weather was likely to be fair to partly cloudy. A brief spell of rain/thunderstorm may occur towards late afternoon/evening.” 

From May 7-8, he said, rain was likely at “many places”. 
Regarding temperature, he said, Srinagar recorded a low of 10.6°C against 11.3°C on the previous night and it was 0.9°C below normal for the summer capital.

Qazigund, he said, recorded a low of 9.0°C against 7.8°C on the previous night and it was above normal by 1.3°C for the gateway town of Kashmir.

Pahalgam, he said, recorded a low of 6.5°C against 4.7°C on previous night and it was 1.6°C above normal for the famous tourist resort in south Kashmir’s Anantnag district.

Kokernag recorded a low of 8.3°C against 7.7°C on the previous night and it was 0.1°C below normal for the place, the officials said.

Gulmarg recorded a low of 3.9°C against 4.0°C on previous night and it was 0.4°C below normal for the world famous skiing resort in north Kashmir’s Baramulla district, he said.

In Kupwara town, he said, the mercury settled at 8.1°C against 8.7°C on the previous night and it was 0.3°C below normal for the north Kashmir area.

Jammu recorded a low of 16.8°C against 18.7°C on the previous night. It was 5.8°C below normal for J&K’s winter capital, he said. (GNS)

SRINAGAR: Amid forecast for isolated very light rain and thunderstorm in the next 24 hours and fairly widespread precipitation thereafter till April 21, night temperature recorded a rise on Saturday, officials said.

A meteorological department official here told GNS that Srinagar recorded a low of 9.1°C against 9.0°C on the previous night and it was 1.5°C above normal for the summer capital.

Qazigund, he said, recorded a low of 6.2°C against 6.0°C on the previous night and it was 0.3°C below normal for the gateway town of Kashmir.

Pahalgam, he said, recorded a low of 4.6°C against 3.6°C on the previous night and it was 1.8°C above normal for the famous tourist resort in south Kashmir’s Anantnag district.

Kokernag recorded a low of 10.6°C against 9.4°C on the previous night and it was 4.5°C above normal for the place, the officials said.

Gulmarg recorded a low of 7.0°C against 5.4°C on the previous night and it was 5.5°C above normal for the world famous skiing resort in north Kashmir’s Baramulla district, he said.

In Kupwara town, he said, the mercury settled at 6.2°C against 5.6°C on the previous night and it was 0.1°C below normal for the north Kashmir area.

Jammu recorded a low of 21.2°C against 20.3°C on the previous night. It was 2.0°C above normal for J&K’s winter capital, he said.

Banihal, he said, recorded a low of 9.3°C (above normal by 1.1°C), Batote 13.2°C (above normal by 2.7°C), Katra 19.4°C (2.9°C above normal) and Bhadarwah 8.9°C (1.9°C below normal). Ladakh’s Leh and Kargil recorded a low of minus 0.2°C and 3.3°C respectively, he said.

Regarding the forecast, he said, isolated very light rain and thunderstorms were expected in the next 24 hours.

He said from April 16-17, generally cloudy weather with intermittent light rain, thunderstorm and lightning “with occasional moderate intensity rains for short period” scattered to fairly widespread places of Kashmir and a few places of Jammu division.

From April 18-19, he said, the weather is likely to be generally cloudy with intermittent light to moderate rain (light snow over higher reaches)/thunderstorm/lightning at fairly widespread places of Kashmir division and few places of Jammu division.

From April 20-21st, he said, generally cloudy weather with intermittent light rain, thunderstorms and lightning was expected at a few places. “From April 22-26, the weather is likely to be mainly dry weather.”  (GNS)