Srinagar, Nov 13 (HS): Intermittent snowfall in the higher reaches and rain in the plains of the Kashmir Valley continued for a third consecutive day on Friday. According to the Meteorological Department, the rain and snow could continue till Nov 14, after which mostly dry weather is forecast until Nov 24.

Almost all districts of the Valley received heavy rain late on Thursday night. The sun came out on Friday morning and broke through the clouds repeatedly, and people were seen enjoying the soft sunshine. As forecast by the department, however, thick clouds covered the sky in the afternoon, and intermittent rain continued into the evening. The higher reaches also continued to receive snowfall.

A department spokesperson said the sky could remain cloudy till Nov 14, with snowfall in the higher areas and rain in the plains continuing intermittently. From Nov 15 to 24, the weather is expected to stay largely dry.

Gulmarg, Sonamarg, Gurez, Razdan Top and several other higher areas saw intermittent snowfall over the past 24 hours, while the plains received on-and-off rain. Baramulla district in north Kashmir recorded the Valley’s highest rainfall at 49.5 mm, followed by Gulmarg with 40.6 mm and Kupwara district with 37.3 mm.

Srinagar, the summer capital, received 16.3 mm of rain during this period and Pahalgam 22.4 mm, while Qazigund, known as the Gateway of Kashmir, recorded 5.8 mm. Between 2 and 6 inches of snow has piled up in many higher areas.

Despite the rain and snow, traffic on the Srinagar-Jammu national highway, the Valley’s lifeline, is moving normally in both directions. The Mughal Road, however, which links south Kashmir’s Shopian district with Rajouri and Poonch in the Jammu region, stayed closed for a second consecutive day on Friday. Officials said traffic was halted on Thursday after fresh snowfall at Pir Ki Gali and other higher reaches, and will not be restored until the weather improves and the snow is cleared. Clearance work is under way.

According to traffic officials, the Srinagar-Sonamarg-Gumri road and the Kishtwar-Anantnag road also remain shut, with work on to reopen them. Traffic police asked travellers to contact the Traffic Police Control Room before setting out on the Mughal Road or the Srinagar-Leh national highway, to check whether the road is open. They also advised people to follow the Traffic Police’s pages on X and Facebook for timely updates.

The fresh snowfall has begun drawing larger crowds to tourist spots, particularly Gulmarg. People in the tourism sector said the new snow will attract visitors from outside J&K and give winter tourism a boost, welcome news for the industry.

Farmers, too, had been waiting anxiously for rain and snow. Nazir Ahmad, a farmer, told Hindusthan Samachar: “This round of rain and snow is nothing short of a blessing. It has put new life into the sown crops, and it was also badly needed for apple and other trees.”

Mohammad Yousuf, a resident, said the precipitation has cleared much of the air pollution. “Dry weather brings on various illnesses,” he said. “The recent rain will spare people, especially children and the elderly, from these diseases.”

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Hindusthan Samachar / Zahoor Hussain Bhat