Rain lash plains, snowfall in upper reaches of Kashmir

The minimum temperature across the valley, except in Gulmarg, stayed above the freezing point owing to a cloud cover, the officials said. Srinagar recorded a minimum temperature of 2.8 degrees Celsius.

Srinagar: Rains lashed Kashmir plains while higher reaches of the valley received fresh snowfall for the second day on Saturday even as the minimum temperature rose and stayed above the freezing point at most places, officials said.

Gurez, in north Kashmir's Bandipora district, received five inches of snow, Keran and Machil, in Kupwara, three inches each, Sinthan Pass four inches and Mughal Road four inches, the officials said. The famous ski resort of Gulmarg recorded four inches of fresh snow and Sonamarg tourist resort in central Kashmir's Ganderbal district six inches, they added.

The minimum temperature across the valley, except in Gulmarg, stayed above the freezing point owing to a cloud cover, the officials said. Srinagar recorded a minimum temperature of 2.8 degrees Celsius. The mercury in Pahalgam tourist spot in south Kashmir settled at a low of 1.2 degrees Celsius, the officials said.

They said Qazigund -- the gateway town to the valley -- recorded a low of 2.8 degrees Celsius, while the mercury in Kokernag settled at a low of 2.3 degrees Celsius. Kupwara in north Kashmir registered a low of 1.3 degrees Celsius. Gulmarg was the only weather station in the valley where the night temperature stayed below the freezing point at minus 2.5 degrees Celsius, the officials said.

The MeT office has said the weather will remain cloudy with intermittent light rain or snow at scattered places in Kashmir and isolated places in Jammu till Saturday afternoon. There will be an improvement in weather thereafter. There will be a slight respite in cold during the next two-three days, it said, adding dry weather is expected till December 20.

Meanwhile, the 434 km long Srinagar-Leh national highway connecting Kashmir valley with Ladakh UT remained closed for the second consecutive day on Saturday due to fresh snowfall. Heavy snowfall was witnessed in Sonamarg, Zojila, Gagan Gir, Kalngund of Ganderbal, due to which the movement of small vehicles has also been affected due to slippage on the Sona Marg road.