Srinagar, Feb 28 (UNI) Weather turned pleasant as bright sunshine greeted people on Sunday after day-long rain and snow on Saturday in the summer capital, Srinagar, and other parts of Kashmir valley, where night temperature dipped due to overcast conditions.
Meanwhile, another spell of wet weather is predicted from Wednesday onwards under the influence of a fresh Western Disturbance.
A Met department spokesperson told UNI that the weather will remain dry during the next three days, which could result in dip in the minimum temperature though the maximum temperature is expected to improve due to sunshine.
However, he said a Western Disturbance (WD), which originated from the Arabian sea and is approaching the region though Afghanistan and Pakistan, will hit the region on Wednesday. “Under the influence of this WD, rain and snow is predicted from Wednesday onwards,” he added.
After witnessing dip in the night temperature due to overcast conditions, people woke up to a chilly Sunday morning in Srinagar. However, as the day progressed, bright sunshine greeted people in the city, where people were seen basking in the sun in parks, balconies and open fields. Against 4.7 degree recorded on Saturday, the night temperature in Srinagar dipped and settled at 2.1 degree, which is still above normal.
Much to the delight of tourists, the weather on Sunday turned pleasant after heavy snowfall recorded on Saturday at world famous ski resort of Gulmarg, which is hosting second edition of Khelo India Winter games.
A number of events were canceled on Saturday due to heavy snowfall in the resort, which is known for its ski slopes and quality of snow. The ski resort was the only place in the valley where the night temperature settled below normal. Against minus 2.2 degree recorded on Saturday, the night temperature in Gulmarg settled at 6 degree, which is marginally below normal. “Khelo India winter games participants and other tourists were enjoying different snow related activities on a sunny Sunday,” a hotelier from Gulmarg told UNI.
He said majority of the hotels are fully booked till April.
The night temperature at world famous health resort of Pahalgam, about 100 km from here in south Kashmir, also dipped though settled 3 degree above normal. Against 0.3 degree recorded on Saturday, the night temperature dipped and settled at 0.6 degree. But, the weather during the day turned pleasant in the resort due to sunshine.
The mercury at Qazigund, gateway to the valley, Kupwara in north Kashmir and tourist resort of Kukernag settled at 2.3 degrees, minus 0.1 degrees and 0.4 degrees, respectively.
UNI ABS SY 1800