Srinagar: The weatherman on Thursday forecast widespread rains on 7 March even as the minimum temperatures increased in Kashmir Valley, officials said.
A meteorological department official said that Srinagar recorded a low of 3.9°C against 2.8°C on the previous night. The temperature was 1.7°C above normal for this time of the year in this summer capital, the official said.
Qazigund recorded a low of 2.2°C against 1.4°C on the previous night while the mercury settled at 2.1°C at the famous resort of Pahalgam against 0.5°C on the earlier night.
Kokernag, also in south Kashmir, recorded a low of 3.4°C against 2.5°C on the previous night.
The minimum temperature settled at 3.4°C in Kupwara against 0.2°C on the previous night, the official said.
Gulmarg, the world famous skiing resort, recorded a minimum temperature of minus 1.0°C against minus 2.4°C on the previous night.
“Fairly widespread” rains have been predicted for 6 March while widespread rains (76-100% predictability) have been forecast for 7 March. The weatherman has also issued a “yellow warning” for “isolated heavy rain/snow/thunder/lightning/hail” on 7 March and said that the weather system may impact surface traffic due to landslides on the Jammu-Srinagar highway, the only surface link connecting Kashmir Valley with the outside world.
“There is a possibility of light to moderate rain with thunder and lightening over plains and light to moderate snow over higher reaches during the late night of 6 March and 7 March and thereafter decrease in intensity and distribution,” the Met official said.
The possibility of heavy snow over isolated places particularly over higher reaches can’t be ruled out during 7 March, the officials said.
He said that the probable impacts include disruption of surface transport over higher reaches, the possibility of landslides and shooting stones over Jammu-Srinagar Highway, the possibility of hailstorms at isolated places over plains of Jammu division, and fall in maximum temperature by 4-8 degree Celsius.
There are four types colour codes signifying the level of caution: green which means no action, yellow—a situation to be watched, amber –government agencies need to be prepared for severe weather, and red – action needed by the agencies. (GNS)
