Jammu Kashmir, 22 October (H.S.): The Meteorological Centre on Tuesday predicted light rain and snow over the higher reaches of Kashmir valley during the next 48 hours.

The MeT office said that currently the dry weather has been going on in the Kashmir valley for the past several weeks and there is no major forecast until the end of the month.

“There is a possibility of very light rain/ light snow over higher reaches of North and central Kashmir towards late night of October 23 and early morning of October 24”, it said adding the weather is very likely to remain dry over the plains of Kashmir valley except a slight drizzle during this period.

“A feeble Western Disturbance is likely to hit on October 28 and can cause very light rain/light snow over higher reaches of north and central Kashmir towards evening or night”, The MeT office said adding the weather will remain generally dry till end of this month.

“Overall there is no significant weather forecast till the end of the month”, it said.

Kashmir weather, an independent weather observer, Faizan Arif said “snowfall is likely at the higher reaches of the ski resort of Gulmarg in north Kashmir’s Baramulla district , Sonamarg in central Kashmir’s Ganderbal district and on the Zojila pass on Srinagar-Ladakh highway on October 24”.

Currently, the day and night temperatures are above normal in the Kashmir valley and are likely to witness a gradual drop with the onset of winter in Kashmir valley.

The farmers have been advised to continue harvesting, safe storage of harvested crops, and other farm operations during this period.

The minimum temperature in Srinagar during the intervening night of Monday and Tuesday was recorded at 7.3 degrees Celsius and it was 1.9 degrees Celsius above normal for the summer capital of Jammu and Kashmir during this period of season.

The maximum temperature was also 4.3 degrees Celsius above normal of 21.9 degrees Celsius recorded on Monday, the MeT office said.

---------------

Hindusthan Samachar / Krishan Kumar