Rain brings back chill across state

Western disturbance, rain common phenomenon, says Meteorological Department

The Kashmir valley is in the grip of a renewed cold wave following a downpour for the past three days, causing the mercury to plummet by at least 10°C.
Heavy rain in the Jammu plains for the last two days also caused a dip in temperature, bringing back the chill to the region.
The intermittent and moderate intensity rain was received across all districts of the Kashmir valley, accompanied by light snow over mountains, including those around Srinagar.
The fresh downpour caused the mercury to plummet by at least 10°C in Srinagar. The maximum temperature in the summer capital since Friday was recorded at around 10°C.
The Valley witnessed a rare dry winter, with little snow during the core winter period. The increased day temperature caused an early almond bloom, signifying early arrival of spring.
The maximum temperature in recent weeks had soared above 20°C, which happened for the first time in the past 75 years.
The latest spell of downpour, that was likely to continue on Monday when the Kashmir region was expected to receive scattered rain, caused the return of winter chill.
The maximum temperature recorded in Srinagar since Friday was three degrees below normal for this time of the year.
The department said scattered rain was likely in Kashmir on Monday, followed by two days of dry weather. The department said a fresh spell of downpour was likely in the region later this week.
After remaining closed for vehicular traffic following fresh incidents of shooting stones in the Ramsu area of Ramban since Saturday night, smooth movement was resumed on National Highway 44 this morning.
Sources in the traffic police said vehicular traffic was plying smoothly despite shooting stones in the Ramsu area till last reports came in.
Passenger vehicles from Jammu and Srinagar and trucks carrying essential commodities and livestock were allowed on priority around noon.
Traffic plied normally amid sporadic incidents of shooting stones from the hillside in the afternoon.
The Batote-Kishtwar road (National Highway 244) was opened for one-way traffic this afternoon after remaining closed on Saturday night due to a landslide at Raggi nullah.
The district administration issued a warning in connection with the weather forecast for the next two days regarding landslides, avalanches and sporadic cloudbursts.
The Meteorological Department attributed the phenomenon to a western disturbance. The department predicted rain for three days in the Jammu plains and snow and hailstorms in Kashmir over this period.
“It is usual for Jammu and Kashmir to witness rain, hailstorm and snowfall due to western disturbances in February end or March,” said Sonam Lotus, Director of the Meteorological Department.
“The spell may take a break tomorrow, but after a couple of days, another spell is likely in the state for a prolonged period,” he added.
He said the Jammu region usually received rain in July and August while the Valley received rain and snow in December and January, which was a common phenomenon of the weather cycle in the state.
A western disturbance was the mid-period which affected both regions and brought rain and snowfall, which was a common phenomenon, said Lotus.