Jammu and Kashmir is expected to witness its first wet spell of this winter next week.
The meteorological department said a western disturbance is approaching the region after more than two months of dry weather. “There are chances of rain and snow from November 13 to 15,” said the department’s deputy director, Mukhtar Ahmad.
“An active Western Disturbance is most likely to affect J&K and Ladakh during 13-15th Nov, with main activity on 14th. As a result of this, moderate rain /snow (1-2inches snow) is likely in plains of Kashmir and hilly areas of Jmu and Ladakh, especially Drass, Zanskar and some area of Leh Disrict, whereas good snowfall is expected at places like Gulmarg, Gurez etc,” he said.
Kashmir owes its precipitation mostly to winds blowing from the Mediterranean Sea called western disturbance.
The valley has had an unusually long dry spell this year, leading to shortage of water for drinking and irrigation.
On November 4, there was light snowfall in the higher reaches of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh but there was no precipitation in the plains.
“This year was abnormally dry. The rainfall from July to October was also 35% below normal,” said meteorologist Mohammad Hussain.
The minimum temperature in Srinagar dipped to below zero for the first time this season to settle at minus 0.9 degree Celsius on Saturday, while it was 20.8 degrees during the day.
The lowest temperature in Kashmir was in the tourist resort of Pahalgam that recorded a minimum of minus 2.7 degrees Celsius, while Ladakh’s Leh was cold at minus 7.4 degrees.
