Rains, snowfall in Kashmir bring relief from cold

Residents in Kashmir division, including Ladakh region, experienced a huge relief from the cold conditions prevailing here as mercury rose by several notches owing to a spell of wet weather, with some areas in the higher reaches of the Valley receiving fresh snowfall.
In Srinagar, temperature increased nearly four degrees from the previous night's low to settle at 3.1 degrees Celsius, an official of the Meteorological department said.
Gulmarg, the famous ski resort in north Kashmir, received fresh snowfall of around two inches at night, he said.
He said the minimum temperature at the ski-resort, which is the star attraction for tourists visiting the Valley during winter, went up from the previous night's low of minus 6 degrees Celsius to settle at minus 3.2 degrees Celsius.

The official said barring Gulmarg, mercury in all the places recorded in the Valley settled above freezing point.
He said there were reports of fresh snowfall in many other areas in the higher reaches of the Valley, but the department has no observatories there and does not keep a record of weather at such places.

Most of the areas in the plains of the Valley received intermittent rains overnight with the north Kashmir town of Kupwara recording rainfall of 14.2 mm, he said.
The mercury there registered an increase of nearly three notches and settled at a low of 0.5 degrees Celsius, the official said.

The night temperature in the hill resort of Pahalgam in south Kashmir, which serves as a base camp for annual Amarnath yatra, went up over six notches to settle at a low of 1.3 degrees Celsius, the official said.
In Qazigund, the gateway town to Kashmir Valley, mercury increased 1.5 degrees to settle at 2.6 degrees Celsius, he said, adding Kokernag registered a low of 1 degree Celsius.
Residents in Leh town of Ladakh region also experienced a huge relief as the night temperature rose over six degrees from the previous night s low of minus 12.7 degrees Celsius to settle at minus 6.5 degrees Celsius, the official said.

Data for nearby Kargil town was not available, he said.
The official said there is possibility of heavy rains or snowfall at few places in Kashmir over two days from today.
The Valley is currently under the grip of Chillai-Kalan, a 40-day harsh winter period, which began on December 21 and ends on January 31.
The 40-day period is followed by a 20-day long 'Chillai-Khurd' (small cold) and a 10-day long 'Chillai Bachha' (baby cold).