The Meteorological Department has predicted a wet spell on February 2 and 3 in the Valley and a spell of light snowfall in higher reaches on January 31 and February 1.
Deputy Director MeT, Mukhtar Ahmad said the weather will remain dry till January 31, after which there is “the possibility of a light snowfall in higher reaches of the Valley till February 1.”
However, the MeT official said there was a possibility of a wet spell between February 2 and 3, during which both plains and Valley higher reaches are “likely to receive a light spell of snowfall”.
“This is a minor Western Disturbance and we don’t expect its impact in the plains. There are chances of only light snowfall in the higher reaches between January 31 and February 1,” Ahmad said.
“We expect inclement weather between February 2 and 3, a light snowfall or rains in both plains and higher reaches of the Valley,” Ahmad said.
He said “there will be an improvement in both minimum and maximum temperatures in days to come”. “We expect a gradual increase in night temperatures and even day temperatures as we come close to the end of Chilai Kalan.”
Meanwhile, a cold wave sweeping Kashmir Valley has intensified with Srinagar recording a low of minus 5.6 degrees Celsius, the weatherman said Thursday.
A meteorological department official said that Srinagar, the summer capital of J&K, recorded a minimum of minus 5.6°C against minus 2.0°C on the previous night.
The minimum temperatures have consistently remained far below normal this season. On January 14, Srinagar witnessed the season’s coldest night at minus 8.4°C which was the chilliest one in more than 25 years. In 1991, Srinagar witnessed a low of minus 11.8°C while the lowest ever temperature was recorded on 31 January 1893 when the mercury had plummeted to minus 14.4 degrees Celsius.
Meanwhile, the mercury settled at minus 12.3°C in Pahalgam against minus 7.7°C on the previous night in the world-famous health resort.
Qazigund, the gateway town of J&K, recorded a low of minus 10.5°C against 4.4°C on the previous night while Kokernag recorded a minimum of minus 10.7°C against 8.3°C on the earlier night.
Gulmarg recorded a low of minus 13.4°C against 12.0°C earlier night, the official said.
The mercury settled at minus 2.2°C in the in Kupwara against minus 2.0°C on the previous night, the official said.