MeT forecast fairly widespread rain in plains, snow over upper reaches in J&K

Amid forecast for scattered to widespread light to moderate rain and thunderstorm from May 23, night temperature recorded a rise in Jammu and Kashmir on Monday.

A meteorological Department official told GNS that from May 23 to 26th there would be “fairly widespread to widespread light to moderate rain/thunder/lightning with possibility of Hailstorm and gusty winds at few palces. He said a few places over higher reaches may receive light snowfall.

The MeT has already issued “orange warning” for “isolated heavy rain thunder lightning with gusty winds 30-40 kmph” on May 23 in J&K. Also a yellow warning for “isolated thunder and lightning isolated thunder and lightning” has been forecast on May 25 and 26.

There are four types of colour codes signifying the level of caution: green which means no action, yellow—situation to be watched, orange–government agencies need to be prepared for severe weather and red –action needed by the agencies.

Regarding temperature, a meteorological department official here told GNS that Srinagar recorded a low of 13.0°C against 12.0°C on the previous night and it was1.3°C above normal for the summer capital.

Qazigund, he said, recorded a low of 9.0°C against 8.4°C on the previous night and it was below normal by 1.3°C for the gateway town of Kashmir.

Pahalgam, he said, recorded a low of 6.2°C against 5.2°C on the previous night and it was normal for the famous tourist resort in south Kashmir’s Anantnag district.

In Kupwara town, he said, the mercury settled at 9.4°C against 8.6°C on the previous night and it was 1.0°C below normal for the north Kashmir area.

Kokernag recorded a low of 11.8°C against 11.1°C on the previous night and it was 1.7°C above normal for the place, the officials said.

Gulmarg recorded a low of 9.5°C against 9.0°C on previous night and it was above normal by 2.7°C for the world famous skiing resort in north Kashmir’s Baramulla district, he said.

Jammu recorded a low of 25.1°C and it was 0.7°C below normal for J&K’s winter capital, he said.

Banihal recorded a low of 11.3°C (below normal by 0.7°C), Batote 16.2°C (1.7°C above normal), Katra 21.6°C (0.6°C above normal) and Bhaderwah 16.6°C (above normal by 1.2°C). Ladakh’s Leh and Kargil recorded a low of 3.6°C and 4.3°C respectively, he said.