A nightlong cloud cover has intensified the cold in the Kashmir Valley, with the Meteorological Department predicting widespread rain and snow starting Thursday evening. Two strong Western Disturbances have reached Jammu and Kashmir, set to be active from January 22 to January 24, with peak activity expected on January 23. These disturbances are likely to bring moderate to heavy rain and snow, including the season’s first snowfall in the plains, including Srinagar city.
Another weather system is anticipated around January 28 due to a weaker Western Disturbance. Western Disturbances are extratropical storms in the Mediterranean that bring rain and snow to countries like India, Pakistan, Nepal, and Bangladesh, crucial for their Rabi crops. The ongoing ‘Chillai Kalan,’ a 40-day period of intense winter cold with heavy snowfall in higher areas, has seen less precipitation this year, disappointing Kashmiris.
As the Chillai Kalan nears its end in eight days, an increase in lung-related ailments due to dry cold air has been reported. Temperatures in Srinagar city dropped to minus 3.4 degrees Celsius, while Pahalgam and Gulmarg recorded minus 4.4 and minus 4 degrees Celsius, respectively, as the minimum temperature. In Jammu city, the temperature was 7.2 degrees Celsius, with other areas experiencing even colder temperatures.
The Meteorological Department has issued a weather advisory, urging tourists and transporters to plan journeys carefully. Farmers are advised to halt farming activities during the inclement weather expected to start from this evening.
