Srinagar, April 8: Intermittent rains lashed the Kashmir plains on Wednesday, while the Jammu region recorded widespread rainfall, the Meteorological Department said.
According to the Meterological Department, erratic weather conditions are expected to continue until April 10.
“Srinagar and other areas in Kashmir plains experienced intermittent rainfall,” a MeT official said.
Higher reaches, including the ski resort of Gulmarg in north Kashmir and high mountain passes, received fresh light snowfall.
Srinagar recorded 2.3 mm of rainfall in the past 24 hours, followed by Qazigund with 1.4 mm, Pahalgam 3.6 mm, Kupwara 5.8 mm, Kokernag 2 mm, and Gulmarg 8.2 mm.
The impact of the western disturbance was more pronounced in the Jammu division, where widespread rainfall was reported.
Jammu recorded 42.1 mm of rainfall in the last 24 hours, Udhampur 41.6 mm, Rajouri 50 mm, Poonch 16 mm, Katra 39.8 mm, Reasi 36.5 mm, Batote 26.4 mm, Bhaderwah 16.9 mm, Banihal 14.3 mm, and Kathua 11.6 mm.
The rainfall triggered landslides along the Banihal-Ramban stretch of the Srinagar-Jammu National Highway, disrupting traffic.
Temperatures dropped sharply across both Kashmir and Jammu regions.
Srinagar recorded a maximum temperature of 11.8 degrees Celsius, 7 degrees below normal.
Other stations also reported below-normal temperatures with Qazigund at 12 degrees Celsius, Pahalgam 8.6 degrees Celsius, and Gulmarg 3.6 degrees Celsius.
In Jammu, the maximum temperature settled at 24 degrees Celsius, 6.4 degrees below normal. Banihal recorded 10.2 degrees Celsius, Batote 9.7 degrees Celsius, Katra 19.6 degrees Celsius, and Bhaderwah 10.7 degrees Celsius.
“Intermittent light to moderate rain and snowfall in higher reaches will continue until Wednesday evening, accompanied by thunder, hail, and gusty winds at a few places,” the official said.
Some areas in Kashmir may receive moderate to heavy rainfall, while higher elevations could witness light to moderate snowfall until Thursday morning.
Director of the Meteorological Department’s Srinagar Centre, Mukhtar Ahmad said the weather would remain unstable.
“For April 9 and 10, brief spells of light rain or thundershowers are expected at scattered places, mainly during the afternoon or late afternoon hours,” he said.
The forecast indicates partly cloudy conditions on April 11 and 12, with chances of brief light rain toward evening.
Weather is expected to remain largely dry on April 13 and 14 before turning cloudy again on April 15 and 16, with isolated light rain spells.
Authorities issued an advisory warning of thunderstorms, hailstorms, and gusty winds reaching speeds of 40-50 km per hour in some places.
There is also a risk of landslides and flash floods in vulnerable areas.
Farmers have been advised to resume agricultural operations from April 9 onward.
A gradual rise of 4-6 degrees Celsius in daytime temperatures is expected across several areas starting Thursday.
