Fresh snowfall likely in Kashmir

Srinagar : Rain and snow has been forecast again across the Kashmir Valley Sunday and over the next two days, an official said.

The fresh snow and rain is due to the western disturbance, he said.

“We are expecting snowfall in the Valley from Sunday up to Feb 14. The snowfall could be heavy in the Pir Panchal Mountain range. Both road and air traffic is likely to get disrupted because of the western disturbance that is active over the Valley at present,” Sonam Lotus, director of the local meteorological office, said.

Western Disturbance is used to describe an extra tropical storm in the Mediterranean Sea which results in sudden rain and snowfall.

WDs play an important role for the development of the Rabi crop in India, Pakistan, Nepal and Bangladesh.

Meanwhile, the minimum temperature was 1.7 degrees Celsius in Srinagar Sunday. It was minus 1.4 degrees in Pahalgam, minus 6.5 degrees in Gulmarg, minus 8.8 degress in Kargil and minus 11 degrees Celsius in Leh.

The 40-day long period of severe cold known as “Chillai Kalan” ended on Jan 30. The Valley experienced severe winter this season with the night temperatures remaining below the freezing point.