Srinagar witnessed 1stsnowfall of this season, on Tuesday 04thJan 2022. Earlier, Skymet predicted the likely event and confirmed its commencement yesterday. The capital city of Jammu & Kashmir received light snow and rain, almost non stop till mid day and a break thereafter. Snowfall commenced again this morning, with moderate intensity resulting sky obscured conditions. The city observed 5mm of rain and snow so far and the tally will rise beyond double digit in the next 24hr. The day maximum temperature, as assessed dropped below 5°C. Srinagar city recorded 4.3°C, 1st under 5°C of this season and the minimum missed the freezing mark to stay at 0.8°C. The cloud cover and rain/snow will last for longer duration today and a repeat of mercury level is expected in the next 24hr.
Gloomy weather conditions are likely to improve a bit tomorrow, but briefly. Another western disturbance will arrive on 07thJan and a bigger clamp down is expected in the entire Kashmir valley between 07th and 09thJan. The blossom town of Srinagar can expect a fierce attack of heavy rain and snow during this period with a peak intensity on 08thJan. Communication and connectivity is likely to be disrupted on account of road blocks and landslides.
The capital city Shimla, in the sister state of Himachal Pradesh still await crazy snowfall event of this season. Though the neighboring tourist locations of Kufri and Narkanda situated above the elevation of 9000’, did witness some snow but the city per se and its highest point Jakhoo still await for the grand occasion. Another attractive location Mashorba, just 13km from Shimla and with elevation of 7700’ also remains in queue to witness maiden annual event.
Shimla and its surroundings have received good wintry showers measuring 11mm in the past 24hr. However, the temperatures have not dipped much to facilitate 1st snowfall of the season. The day maximum remained in double digit and the minimum also remained much above the freezing mark at 4.6°C. The lower layers of the atmosphere and near ground temperatures need to dip sufficiently to have freezing rain and snow flakes. Conditions remain favorable today, to observe 1st snowfall of the season.
Another active western disturbance lashing the mountains between 07th and 09thJan looks promising for bout of snowfall event for Shimla. Likely hailstorm activity along the foothills and the lower Shivalik ranges, during this period will trigger significant drop in temperatures. Fingers crossed to witness heavy snowfall in and around Mall Road, the famous city resort.
