Reportedly, Gulmarg, Kupwara, Pahalgam, Banihal and Mughal Road recorded good snowfall. This resulted in shutdown of arterial Srinagar-Jammu National Highway for vehicular movement. Mughal Road was also closed to avoid any untoward incident due to slippery conditions. Scores of vehicles were stranded on the roadside.
The fresh weather activity has also pulled down the maximum temperatures significantly, which are now settling at least 10 to12 degrees below than the normal temperatures.
According to Skymet, the active Western Disturbance that is presently moving across the state has caused the rainfall and snow activity. Scattered light rain will continue for another 24 hours over the state.
Thereafter, weather will go dry with the system clearing away from the hilly region. With this, day temperatures are also expected to crawl back to normal during 24 to 48 hours.
Another Western Disturbance is also seen approaching the hills of Jammu and Kashmir and is likely to start affecting the weather from October 24 onwards.
This was the second active Western Disturbance to affect the northern hilly region post-Monsoon season. Now the frequency of these systems will increase over the Western Himalayas as October to February is the favourable season for disturbances.
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