Fresh Western Disturbance brings widespread rain in Kashmir

Srinagar, Apr 3: Widespread rainfall lashed Kashmir on Saturday as a fresh Western Disturbance impacted Jammu and Kashmir, bringing down temperatures.

The Meteorological Department (MeT) forecasted continued precipitation over the next 24 hours.

Heavy rain began in Srinagar and other parts of Kashmir in the afternoon.

The MeT recorded 14 mm of rainfall in Srinagar, 11.6 mm in Qazigund, 10.6 mm in Pahalgam, 8.7 mm in Kupwara, 6.2 mm in Kokernag, and 16.2 mm in Gulmarg by evening.

The weather system also affected parts of the Jammu region bringing intermittent rains.

Day temperatures dropped across Kashmir.

Srinagar recorded a maximum of 17.3 degrees Celsius, Pahalgam 15.4 degrees Celsius, and Gulmarg 5.6 degrees Celsius – all a couple of notches below normal for this time of the year.

“The rains will continue until Saturday evening in the plains of Kashmir while light snowfall is expected in higher reaches,” a Meteorological Department official said.

He said that higher altitude areas and key mountain passes, including Zojila, Sinthan Top, Margan Top, Mughal Road, Sadhna Top, and Razdan Top, were likely to receive fresh light snowfall.

Weather conditions are expected to improve gradually from Sunday, though brief showers may persist at isolated places, officials said.

Director Meteorological Centre Srinagar, Mukhtar Ahmad, said the region would continue to experience unstable weather due to successive Western Disturbances till April 10.

“Generally cloudy conditions with intermittent light to moderate rain and snow at many places, accompanied by thunder, hailstorm and gusty winds, will continue until the evening of April 4,” Ahmad said.

He said April 5-6 is expected to remain partly cloudy with light rain at isolated places, while “another major Western Disturbance from April 7-9 will bring fresh spells of light to moderate rain and snowfall in higher reaches, along with thunder and gusty winds at many places.”

“A brief spell of light rain or snow is likely at isolated places on April 10-11, followed by generally dry and cloudy weather from April 12-15,” Ahmad said.

The MeT warned of thunderstorms, hailstorms, and gusty winds reaching speeds of 40-50 kmph during April 3-4 and again on April 7-8.

“Intense heavy showers for brief periods may lead to flash floods, landslides at vulnerable places and waterlogging in low-lying areas,” the department said in an advisory.

Farmers have been advised to suspend agricultural operations, while travellers have been urged to plan accordingly.

Meanwhile, the Srinagar district administration issued an advisory urging residents to avoid unnecessary travel.

“The general public is advised to avoid unnecessary movement on roads except in cases of absolute necessity,” the advisory said.

Tourists, shikara operators, and others working around Dal Lake, River Jhelum, and other water bodies have been cautioned against venturing out without verifying safety conditions.

Authorities have asked residents to remain vigilant and contact the District Emergency Operation Centre (DEOC) or Police Control Room (PCR) in case of emergencies.