The strategic highway, which connects Srinagar from Jammu and rest of the country, was closed on Monday due to landslides caused by incessant rain and snow, leaving over 4000 people stranded on the roadside.
However, more rain and snow is forecasted for the hilly state during the next 24 hours on account of a fresh Western Disturbance. According to Skymet Meteorology Division in India, another Western Disturbance is lying over North Pakistan and adjoining Jammu and Kashmir.
The system has already given clouding over the state and adjoining parts of Himachal Pradesh and plains of Punjab. As per Skymet, the system will start giving weather over the hilly states as the day progresses. While in plains, we can expect light rain activity over Punjab during the day and even in Haryana and Delhi by late night.
In wake of the system, maximum temperature have dropped significantly and are now settling below normal. On Friday, Srinagar recorded day temperature at 9.1°C that is three degrees below normal, Gulmarg 0.4°C, four degrees below normal, Kokernag 6.4°C, four degrees below normal and Batote 10.7°C, three degrees below normal.
Meanwhile, minimum temperatures remained unaffected, however, they are likely to increase from Saturday night onwards.
This system will not give as intense weather as the previous one, which had given record breaking rain and snow.
Western Disturbances become frequent during winters and are responsible for affecting the weather in the region to a large extent. These systems after approaching the region usually stay for 1-2 days and give short spells of rain. The system is called Western Disturbance due to its movement from west to east.