Heavy Rain, Snowfall Likely in J-K and Ladakh Till January 26, MeT Issues Advisory

Heavy Rain, Snowfall Likely in J-K and Ladakh Till January 26, MeT Issues Advisory

SRINAGAR: The Meteorological Department has forecast a prolonged wet spell across Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh till January 26, warning of heavy rain and snowfall in several areas and issuing an advisory for travellers and farmers.

Officials said a more intense weather system is likely to affect parts of the Union Territory between January 22 and 25, with the possibility of heavy snowfall over the Chenab Valley, Pir Panjal range and districts of south Kashmir, particularly on January 23 and 24.

The MeT office has cautioned about potential landslides at vulnerable locations and urged people to plan travel carefully during the peak of the wet spell. Farmers have been advised to suspend agricultural activities during the period of heavy precipitation.

Meanwhile, minimum temperatures across Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh remained largely unchanged on Saturday compared to the previous day, indicating the persistence of cold conditions ahead of the approaching system.

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Srinagar recorded a minimum temperature of minus 3.2 degrees Celsius, the same as on Friday. Qazigund and Pahalgam also registered identical lows of minus 3.4 degrees Celsius and minus 2.6 degrees Celsius, respectively.

Gulmarg recorded minus 4.2 degrees Celsius, while Shopian and Pulwama remained the coldest plains at minus 5.6 degrees Celsius and minus 5.3 degrees Celsius. Anantnag settled at minus 4.7 degrees Celsius.

In north Kashmir, Kupwara recorded minus 2.2 degrees Celsius, Baramulla minus 1.6 degrees Celsius and Bandipora minus 3.1 degrees Celsius. Budgam and Awantipora both recorded minus 3.8 degrees Celsius, while Srinagar Airport stood at minus 3.2 degrees Celsius.

In the Jammu region, Jammu city recorded 4.6 degrees Celsius, Banihal 0.6 degrees Celsius, Bhaderwah 1.5 degrees Celsius and Rajouri minus 0.5 degrees Celsius. Katra and Kishtwar registered 7.4 degrees Celsius and 7.5 degrees Celsius, respectively.

Ladakh continued to reel under extreme cold, with Drass at minus 9.9 degrees Celsius. Leh recorded minus 7 degrees Celsius, Hanle minus 8 degrees Celsius and Kargil minus 5.1 degrees Celsius.

The MeT office has predicted generally cloudy weather on January 18, with light snowfall at isolated higher reaches. From January 19 to 20, light to moderate rain or snow is expected at scattered to fairly widespread places, followed by the major wet spell from January 22 onward. (KNO)