SRINAGAR: Weather department here has forecast light rain and snow at “scattered to fairly widespread” places in Jammu and Kashmir from Monday night to forenoon of Tuesday. A meteorological department official said that on February 28-29, partly to generally cloudy weather is expected with possibility of light rain and snow at isolated places. From March 1-3, he said, there is possibility of light to moderate rain and snow at most places with heavy rain and snow at few middle and higher reaches during March 2 and 3. “Few places may experience thunder/lightning/hailstorm accompanied by gusty winds during the period.” Meanwhile night temperature recorded a fall at few places and slight rise at a few with Srinagar recording a minimum of minus 2.0°C against previous night’s 0.5°C. It was below normal by 2.0°C for the summer capital of J&K for this time of the year, the MeT official told. Qazigund recorded a minimum of minus 2.2°C against minus 1.6°C on the previous night and it was 2.6°C below normal for the gateway town of Kashmir, he said. Pahalgam recorded a low of minus 7.0°C against minus 6.0°C on the previous night and it was 3.5°C below normal for the famous resort in south Kashmir. Kokernag, also in south Kashmir, recorded a minimum of minus 2.8°C against minus 3.8°C on the previous night and the temperature was below normal by 2.9°C for the place, the official said. Kupwara town recorded a low of minus 3.5°C against minus 3.0°C on the previous night and it was 3.5°C below normal there, the official said. Gulmarg recorded a low of minus 9.0°C against minus 10.0°C on the previous night. The temperature was below normal by 3.2°C for the world famous skiing resort in north Kashmir. Jammu, he said, recorded a minimum of 7.9°C and it was below normal by 3.7°C for the winter capital of J&K. Banihal recorded a low of 1.8°C, Batote 2.1°C and Bhaderwah minus 0.44°C, he said. While ‘Chillai-Kalan’, the 40-day harsh period of winter ended on January 29 and 20-day-long winter period called ‘Chillai-Khurd’ ended on February 19, Kashmir is the middle 10-day-long period ‘Chillai-Bachha’ (baby cold) which culminates on March 1.
