Srinagar, Dec 19: Jammu and Kashmir has recorded a rainfall deficit of 78 percent in the last two and a half months with South Kashmir’s Shopian topping the list with a 96 percent deficiency from October 01, 2024, to December 18, 2024.
J&K is witnessing an increase in the deficit rainfall with each passing week as the prolonged dry spell has continued for the last two months at multiple places.
The deficiency increases at a time when the cold wave has tightened its grip across Kashmir where the summer capital of Jammu and Kashmir, Srinagar has recorded the coldest night of the season at minus 6.0 degrees Celsius.
Gulmarg, a famous ski resort, recorded a low of minus 5.0 degrees Celsius.
In Pahalgam, the mercury settled at minus 6.8 degrees Celsius while in Qazigund, a gateway of Kashmir, it settled at minus 7.0 degrees Celsius. North Kashmir’s Kupwara recorded a low of minus 6.2 degrees Celsius while Kokernag in South Kashmir recorded a minimum temperature of 5.3 degrees Celsius.
Meanwhile, the deficit precipitation has gone further up to 75 percent across Jammu and Kashmir from October 01, 2024, to December 19, 2024. Against the normal precipitation of 97.1mm, J&K has recorded a rainfall of 21 mm during the period.
The highest deficit has been recorded in Shopian with 96 percent followed by Poonch with 95 percent while Kulgam and Budgam have recorded a deficit rainfall of 94 percent and 90 percent respectively.
Srinagar has recorded a deficit rainfall of 87 percent. However, Samba is the only place across J&K where above-normal rainfall has been recorded as against the normal precipitation of 41.76 mm, the station has recorded a precipitation of 47 mm during the period.
Kupwara has recorded a deficit rainfall of 41 percent during the period, the data reads.
Moreover, the weather is expected to remain dry for the next 24 hours while light snowfall is expected over a few higher reaches on December 21 and 22, the Director Meteorological Department (MeT) said.
From December 23 to 24, a dry weather condition is expected in J&K followed by a light snowfall over higher reaches towards the 27th late evening or night to 28th forenoon, he said, adding that the weather would remain generally dry on December 29 &30.
He added that the light snow is also expected at a few higher reaches on December 31st.
Furthermore, the MeT in its advisory has said that the cold wave is expected to continue at isolated to scattered places.
Given fresh snowfall, sub-freezing temperatures & icy conditions over roads of important passes and higher reaches, tourists, travelers, and transporters are advised to follow administration and traffic advisories. (With KNO input