The prolonged dry spell in Kashmir may finally come to a close with predicted snowfall and rain just in time for Chille Kalan, occurring from December 18 to 21. The Meteorological Department, known as MeT, indicates a shift in weather patterns, marking a transition after nearly two weeks of dry conditions across the valley.
MeT officials shared insights, confirming that from December 18 to 19, weather conditions in the Kashmir region are set to become partly to generally cloudy. There’s potential for very light snowfall in isolated higher reaches of North and Central Kashmir.
Looking ahead, a potent western disturbance will impact the region from late night on December 20 to December 21. The disturbance is anticipated to bring light to moderate snowfall in higher elevations and light to moderate rain across various plains in Jammu and Kashmir.
On December 22, Kashmir will likely experience generally cloudy weather with sporadic light rain or snowfall at scattered locations. From December 23 to 29, the region can expect to maintain a partly to generally cloudy atmosphere, and towards the month’s end, December 30 and 31 may bring additional isolated snowfall in the higher regions.
Snowfall Advisory Issued: In light of the upcoming weather changes, the MeT Department has issued a snowfall advisory. They caution that certain higher reaches, particularly in the Kupwara, Bandipora, and Ganderbal districts, may witness moderate to heavy snowfall, especially on December 21.
The advisory encourages travelers and transporters to make prudent travel plans, heeding both traffic and administrative advisories for safety.
Temperatures Remain Above Normal: Even as snowfall approaches, temperatures across Jammu and Kashmir have remained notably above normal. Srinagar reported a maximum temperature of 10.6°C, which is about 1.2°C above average, coupled with a minimum of 0.2°C. In Gulmarg, temperatures reached a maximum of 8.8°C, nearly 4°C above normal, with a recorded minimum of 1.6°C.
In the north, Kupwara observed a maximum of 10.8°C and a minimum of -1.0°C. Pahalgam reported a maximum temperature of 11.2°C and a minimum of 0.4°C, while Qazigund registered a high of 13.0°C and a low of 0.8°C. In Jammu city, the temperatures soared higher, with a maximum of 22.3°C and a minimum at 11.0°C.
Interestingly, no rainfall occurred at any monitoring station within the last 24 hours, reinforcing the anticipation for the upcoming weather events.
