In a turn of weather, several regions in Kashmir were blanketed by fresh snowfall on Friday, while the plains had intermittent rain, as reported. The popular tourist resorts of Gulmarg, Sonamarg, and Pahalgam welcomed a fresh layer of snow overnight, delighting visitors and locals alike. After two days of rain and snow, the skies have also cleared over the region, bringing a welcome reprieve from the dry conditions that have plagued the valley.
The meteorological centre in Srinagar said that, over the past 24 hours leading up to Friday morning, the region experienced light to moderate rain and snow across most areas, with heavier snowfall gracing the higher reaches. The plains, including Srinagar, were treated to overnight rain. Snowfall was also recorded in the locales of Anantnag, Zojila Pass, Banihal, Sadhna Pass, as well as Machil in Kupwara and Razdan Pass in Bandipora.
In Jammu's Chenab Valley and the mountains of south Kashmir, moderate to heavy rain and snowfall were reported in several areas. According to the Met department, Banihal recorded a snowfall depth of 15 cm, while Pahalgam in south Kashmir received 13 cm of snow. Bhaderwah experienced 9 cm of snowfall, and Gulmarg had 7 cm. The highest rainfall was noted in Batote, with 48 mm, followed by Bhaderwah with 41 mm, Kukernag in south Kashmir with 27 mm, and Srinagar with 11 mm.
The Met office has provided an update indicating that, while folks can expect a cloudy sky, the weather will generally remain dry from February 21 to 24. However, in the latter part of the month, light to moderate rain or snow may grace many areas, with the possibility of isolated heavy falls between February 25 and 28.
Kashmir has endured an unusually dry winter this year, with January and February witnessing a striking precipitation deficit of approximately 80 percent.
Traffic on the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway has finally resumed as of Friday morning, following an overnight suspension due to heavy snowfall in the Banihal sector. According to reports, the highway was closed around 7 PM on Thursday as treacherous, slippery conditions developed in several areas between Ramsoo and Banihal in the Ramban district, leaving over 300 vehicles stranded in the wintry landscape. Travellers can now breathe a sigh of relief as the road opens once more.
