Monitor News Bureau
Srinagar: As already predicted by the weather department, many parts of Kashmir are witnessing snowfall this morning with the new wet spell being more predominant in northern Kashmir as compared to the last one which was severe in central and southern parts of the valley.
According to reports reaching The Kashmir Monitor, around 15 inches of snow has already accumulated at the skiing destination Gulmarg while Tangmarg has witnessed around 10 inches of snow so far.
In Baramulla, around four inches of snow had accumulated by 10 am Saturday.
It has already begun snowing in Srinagar, and other central and southern Kashmir parts, according to reports reaching this newspaper.
The Weather Department has forecast widespread rains and snow in Jammu and Kashmir today with the spell expected to continue till tomorrow after which there is another dry, cold period of at least four days.
The temperatures showed a drastic improvement last night considering that the sky was overcast and prepping up for snow.
Srinagar, where the mercury has been consistently around minus 6 degrees Celsius or more, was relatively cosy at minus 2 degrees Celsius.
Gulmarg was the coldest in Kashmir at -4.8, with Qazigund, the gateway town of Kashmir, recording a temperature of -4.
Meanwhile, the air traffic to and fro Kashmir was affected on Saturday in the wake of snowfall in most parts of the valley, officials said.
“No flight operations have taken place at the Srinagar airport so far this morning,” an official said.
He added that the runway at the airport was not available for flight operations due to the accumulation of snow.
“It is still snowing and hence, it is difficult to clear the runway for flight operations,” the official said.
Several flights have been delayed due to the snowfall, officials said.
Srinagar-Jammu highway, the only surface link connecting Kashmir with the rest of the world, was closed for traffic following fresh snowfall on Saturday, officials said.
