J&K readies for much awaited spell of rain, snow

Srinagar, Jan 3 (IANS) Light drizzle greeted the residents here on Tuesday morning as the weather office forecast rain and snow in Jammu and Kashmir from evening onwards.

"Rain in the plains and snow in higher reaches is likely to occur from Tuesday evening onwards," a Met official told IANS.

"Precipitation is likely to become fairly widespread from tomorrow (Wednesday) morning and the weather will continue to remain wet till January 6."

"The rain and snowfall during this period will break the long spell of cold and dry weather that has been hitting Jammu and Kashmir," the official said.

"Due to the cloud cover there has been appreciable improvement in the night temperatures across the state.

"Against yesterday's (Monday's) minus 4 degree Celsius, Srinagar on Tuesday recorded minus 0.6 degrees Celsius as the night's lowest temperature.

"Pahalgam had minus 2 degree Celsius against minus 5 degree Celsius on Monday," the official said.

The minimum temperature was minus 3.6 degrees Celsius in Gulmarg with slight improvement over Monday's minus 4 degree Celsius.

Leh at minus 10.5 degrees Celsius was the coldest town in Jammu and Kashmir followed by Kargil at minus 9.3 degrees Celsius on Tuesday.

Jammu also showed improvement in the night temperature which rose to 12.5 degrees Celsius on Tuesday from 8.7 degrees Celsius the previous day.

Mata Vaishno Devi base camp town Katra recorded 10.8 degrees Celsius against the previous night's 8.8 degrees Celsius.

Batote town recorded 5.6 degrees Celsius. Bannihal town had 2.2 degrees Celsius and Bhaderwah recorded 1.8 degrees Celsius on Tuesday against the last night's minus 0.4 degrees Celsius.