Light snowfall in Gurez sector breaks dry spell in Kashmir

The prolonged dry spell in the Valley was broken as Gurez sector in Bandipora district received light snowfall overnight even as minimum temperatures rose a few notches in several places.

The prolonged dry spell in the Valley was broken as Gurez sector in Bandipora district received light snowfall overnight even as minimum temperatures rose a few notches in several places, officials said on January 13.

A feeble western disturbance hit Jammu and Kashmir on Friday night due to which light snowfall occurred in the Gurez area in north Kashmir, they said.

Drass in Ladakh also received very light snowfall but there was no accumulation of snow, they said.

Jammu and Kashmir recorded a 79% rain deficit in December. There was no precipitation in the first week of January as well.

Several parts of the Valley saw a rise in minimum temperatures due to cloudy skies. Night temperatures settled several degrees above the normal for this time of the season.

Srinagar city recorded a minimum temperature of 0.2 degrees Celsius on Friday night, up from the previous night's minus 4 degrees Celsius.

Qazigund recorded a low of minus 2 degrees. The ski resort of Gulmarg recorded a low of minus 1 degree Celsius — up from minus 3.2 degrees Celsius on Thursday night.