SRINAGAR: Amid forecast for mainly dry weather in the next 24 hours, the minimum temperatures recorded an increase but stayed below normal at most places on Thursday. A meteorological department official here said that mainly clear to cloudy weather towards evening and night was expected during the next 24 hours. Between 24 to 25 March, he said, rain and thunderstorm with snowfall over higher reaches at scattered places was possible. Mainly dry weather is expected thereafter till March 28. Regarding temperature, he said, Srinagar recorded a low of 5.2°C against 4.0°C on the previous night and it was 0.2°C above normal for the summer capital. Qazigund, he said, recorded a low of 3.2°C against 2.2°C on the previous night and it was 0.5°C below normal for the gateway town of Kashmir. Pahalgam, he said, recorded a low of minus 0.2°C against minus 0.9°C on the previous night and it was 0.6°C below normal for the famous tourist resort in south Kashmir’s Anantnag district. Kokernag recorded a low of 4.5°C against 3.5°C on the previous night and it was 1.2°C above normal for the place, the officials said. Gulmarg recorded a low of 0.0°C against minus 1.2°C on the previous night and it was 1.6°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 3.7°C against 4.9°C on the previous night and it was 0.5°C above normal for the north Kashmir area. Jammu recorded a low of 13.8°C against 13.1°C on the previous night. It was 1.7°C below normal for J&K’s winter capital, he said. Banihal, he said, recorded a low of 4.2°C (below normal by 1.1°C), Batote 6.3°C (below normal by 1.8°C), Katra 11.3°C (1.2°C below normal) and Bhadarwah 4.6°C (0.7°C above normal). Ladakh’s Leh and Kargil, he said, recorded a low of minus 4.9°C and minus 1.7°C respectively. (GNS)

SRINAGAR: Meteorological department on Friday forecast rain and thunderstorm at scattered places in plains and snowfall over upper reaches of J&K in next 24 hours. “Intermittent rain and thunderstorm accompanied by gusty winds at scattered places is expected whereas snowfall is likely over higher reaches from March 18-20,” a meteorological official said, adding, “there is no forecast of any heavy rain and snow during the time.” He said farmers are again urged to postpone spraying of orchards during the period. Regarding temperature, he said, Srinagar recorded a low of 6.6°C against 5.5°C on the previous night and it was 1.9°C above normal for the summer capital. Qazigund, he said, recorded a low of 4.5°C against 4.2°C on the previous night and it was 0.9°C above normal for the gateway town of Kashmir. Pahalgam, he said, recorded a low of 1.6°C against 0.8°C on the previous night and it was 1.5°C above normal for the famous tourist resort in south Kashmir’s Anantnag district. Kokernag recorded a low of 4.6°C against 6.3°C on the previous night and it was 1.1°C above normal for the place, the officials said. Gulmarg recorded a low of 0.5°C against 1.5°C on the previous night and it was 2.8°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 4.3°C against 3.2°C on the previous night and it was 1.2°C above normal for the north Kashmir area. Jammu recorded a low of 14.3°C against 15.0°C on the previous night. It was 0.6°C below normal for J&K’s winter capital, he said. Banihal, he said, recorded a low of 6.2°C (above normal by 1.3°C), Batote 7.3°C (above normal by 0.6°C), Katra 12.5°C (0.1°C below normal) and Bhadarwah 4.6°C (0.7°C above normal). Ladakh’s Leh and Drass, he said, recorded a low of minus 3.2°C and minus 3.6°C respectively. (GNS)