Srinagar, Jan 2 (IANS) Even as sub-zero temperatures continue across the Kashmir Valley and the Ladakh region, the weather office Monday said rain and snow were likely to lash the plains and the higher reaches from Wednesday onwards.
‘Due to an approaching western disturbance (WD), rain is likely in the plains from the afternoon of January 4 while the mountains surrounding the valley would receive snowfall during this period. The weather disturbance would increase gradually and would start weakening after January 7,’ Sonam Lotus, director of the local meteorological office, said.
‘Western disturbance’ is a term used in India, Pakistan, Nepal and Bangladesh to describe an extra-tropical storm in the Mediterranean Sea that causes sudden rain and snow in South Asia. The WD plays an important role in the production of ‘Rabi’ (winter) crops in these countries.
The minimum temperature improved marginally in the valley due to a partial cloud cover Monday.
‘The minimum temperature was minus 3.6 degrees Celsius today in Srinagar. It was minus 3.0 degrees in south Kashmir’s Pahalgam hill station and minus 7.6 in north Kashmir’s Gulmarg ski resort. This shows a marginal improvement in the minimum temperatures which is because of the partial cloud cover during the night. Leh town in the Ladakh region recorded minus 17.2 degrees,’ said Lotus.
