MeT predicts more rains till Sunday, another wet spell next week

Srinagar: Upper reaches of Kashmir received light snowfall and plains were lashed by rains on Thursday even as the weatherman pre- dicted more rains till weekend. The fresh wet spell caused mercury to dip, prompting people to wear woollens.
Earlier, the meteorological Centre (MeT) had predicted wet spell across Jammu and Kashmir between April 14 and 16 having its major intensity of precipitation
during initial two days. However, the wet spell was likely to continue till April 18.
Upper reaches including Gul- marg in north Kashmir received one to two inches of fresh snowfall on Thursday while widespread rains lashed plains plunging mercury in the Valley, officials said.
Deputy Director MeT Srinagar Dr Mukhtar Ahmad told Kashmir Reader that precipitation will like- ly continue till Sunday.
“Weather will remain erratic up to 18th April across the Valley.
Rains will be witnessed in an intermittent manner,” he said.
According to him, weather is likely to improve on Sunday afternoon for but another wet spell will follow from April 20.
According to weather officials, Srinagar recorded about 13 mm of rainfall, Qazigund recorded about 2.8 mm of rainfall till Thurs- day evening. Pahalgam in south Kashmir received major rainfall of over 30 mm and Kokernag re- ceived over 5.8 mm of rainfall till the evening of Thursday, said the officials.
Gulmarg received over 27 mm of rainfall with Kupwara receiving 13.4 mm of rainfall during the same period, officials said.
Due to the wet-spell, the minimum temperatures dipped marginally across Kashmir valley on Thursday. The weather officials said that Srinagar city recorded a low of 7.8 degree Celsius, down from 9.4 degree Celsius on the previous night while Qazigund recorded a low of 6.2 degree Celsius, up from 7.8 degree Celsius on the earlier night.
Pahalgam, officials said, recorded a low of 2.9 degree Celsius, down from 4.2 degree Celsius recorded a night before. Kokernag recorded a low of 5.5 degree Celsius, against 7.5 degree Celsius on the previous night, the officials said.
Gulmarg, however, recorded the lowest temperature of 0.5 degree Celsius against 2.5 degree Celsius on the earlier night. Kupwara in north Kashmir recorded a low of 6.6 degree Celsius, against 7.0 degree Celsius of the previous night, said the officials.
Meanwhile, vehicular traffic on Srinagar-Jammu National Highway will ply from Jammu towards Srinagar today. Traffic police authorities said that subject to fair weather and road conditions, Light Motor Vehicles(LMV’s) would be allowed from Jammu towards Srinagar on Friday.
It, however, advised the commuters to avoid travelling on the highway before confirming the status of road from Traffic Control Rooms of Jammu, Srinagar and Ramban due to the inclement weather prediction issued by the Met department for next few days.
For Light Motor Vehicles(LMV’s), the department said that the vehicles shall be allowed from Nagrota(Jammu) between 5 AM in the morning till 12 PM and subsequently from Jakheni Udhampur) between 6 AM to 1 PM towards Srinagar adding that no vehicle shall be allowed before and after this time-slot.
For Heavy Motor Vehicles (HMV’s), “Only stranded vehicles between Nashree and Ramban shall be allowed towards Srinagar”, it said.

Reader correspondent