Wet weather to continue till Friday: MeT

SRINAGAR — A considerable drop was registered in temperature on Thursday due to light snowfall in upper reaches and medium to heavy rainfall in low lying areas, which hit the valley during the intervening night of Wednesday and Thursday.

Meanwhile, weathermen said that the downpour will continue till late Friday evening, after which weather is likely to improve. Despite light snowfall in Kulgam, Shopian and along Peerpanchal region, Srinagar Jammu highway remained open for one-way traffic from Srinagar towards Jammu.

After a more than week-long sunshine and pleasant weather, Metrology Department had earlier predicted wet weather for two to three days, coinciding with Maha Shivratri, when traditionally valley is hit by rains or snow.

Earlier on Wednesday late evening, a thick layer of clouds occupied the skies, followed by light snowfall in high altitude areas and medium to heavy rainfall, which began in the midnight and continued on Thursday.

In Srinagar city, rainfall continued till noon without a let up and beyond afternoon intermittently. In northern districts of Baramulla and Kupwara, a light snowfall was recorded in the upper reaches and along the Line of Control (LoC), while as in south Kashmir districts of Kulgam and Shopian, a light snowfall was recorded in higher areas and medium to heavy snowfall in Peerpanchal region.

In Gulmarg, Uri, Nowgam, Handwara, and on Sadhna Top and Jawhar Tunnel, a considerable decline was registered in temperature due to the downpour.

Meanwhile, the Amarnath Yatra route from Pahalgam to the Holy Cave was also covered with a thick white layer of snow.

According to MeT Department, the weather will continue to remain wet for next 72 hours, after which an improvement in its condition is expected.