Srinagar- A fresh spell of rain and snowfall is likely to affect most parts of Jammu and Kashmir from January 26 as a new western disturbance approaches the region, the India Meteorological Department said on Saturday, advising caution in higher reaches and suspension of farm-related activities.
According to the Meteorological Department, the weather is expected to remain unsettled from the night of January 26, with rain and snow likely at most places across the Valley and adjoining hilly areas. A few locations may witness moderate to heavy precipitation accompanied by thunder and gusty winds, particularly during the night of January 26 and the evening of January 27.
The advisory comes after Kashmir experienced widespread rainfall and snowfall over the past 24 hours, with heavy accumulation reported in higher reaches. Officials said most parts of the Valley received moderate to heavy snowfall, while plains saw light to moderate snow, leading to temporary disruption of normal life in several areas.
Meanwhile, weather conditions improved on Saturday morning, allowing restoration of essential services in some areas. Flight operations at Srinagar airport, which were suspended following heavy snowfall, resumed after clearance of snow from the runway. Officials said operations are expected to remain largely normal, though delays and cancellations due to weather conditions cannot be ruled out.
The Meteorological Department has also forecast light rain and snow at isolated places on January 25, followed by a more active spell beginning January 26. From January 28 to February 3, weather is expected to remain mainly dry, though partly cloudy conditions may prevail.
In view of the forecast, the department has advised farmers to suspend field operations until January 28. People residing in snow-bound higher reaches have been cautioned against venturing into avalanche-prone and steep areas during the period of active weather.
Authorities said they are closely monitoring the situation and urged the public to remain alert and follow official advisories as the fresh weather system approaches the region.
Meanwhile,Kashmir recorded a sharp drop in night temperatures on Saturday, with several places reporting sub-zero minimums.
Zethan Rafiabad recorded the lowest temperature at minus 10.9 degrees Celsius, followed by Gulmarg at minus 12.0 degrees Celsius and Sonamarg at minus 10.5 degrees Celsius.
Other areas in the Kashmir Valley also reported freezing temperatures, including Beerwah in Budgam at minus 8.2 degrees Celsius, Pahalgam at minus 7.6 degrees Celsius, and Shopian at minus 7.1 degrees Celsius.
Srinagar registered a minimum temperature of minus 1.4 degrees Celsius, while Srinagar Airport recorded minus 3.2 degrees Celsius.
Other areas across the Valley, including Kupwara, Kokernag, Pampore, Awantipora, Anantnag, Baramulla, Pulwama, Kulgam, and Bandipora, experienced temperatures ranging from minus 2.0 to minus 6.2 degrees Celsius.
In the Jammu region, comparatively milder conditions were recorded. Katra recorded a minimum of 6.6 degrees Celsius, Jammu Airport 4.7 degrees Celsius, and Jammu city 4.5 degrees Celsius.
Other districts, including Banihal, Batote, Bhaderwah, Kathua, Udhampur, Ramban, Samba, Rajouri, Reasi, and Kishtwar, reported minimum temperatures ranging from minus 4.4 to 3.8 degrees Celsius.
Meanwhile, the valley received widespread rainfall and snowfall over the past 24 hours, with several areas recording significant accumulation.
Srinagar recorded 37 mm of rainfall and no snowfall on January 23, followed by 16.4 mm of rain and 2 cm of snow on January 24, bringing the total precipitation to 53.4 mm of rain and 2 cm of snow. Qazigund recorded 94.2 mm of rainfall and 15 cm of snow, while Pahalgam saw 66.2 mm of rain and 64.2 cm of snow.
Kupwara received 45.5 mm of rain and 35 cm of snow, and Gulmarg recorded the highest totals with 101.2 mm of rain and 96.8 cm of snow.
Other areas, including Kukernag, Banihal, Batote, Bhaderwah, Jammu, Katra, Kathua, Mirpur, Awantipora, Udhampur, Ramban, Samba, and Rajouri, also reported varying levels of rainfall, while snowfall was recorded primarily in hilly and valley regions.
Flights Resume; Highway Still Shut
Flight operations at Srinagar Airport resumed on Saturday after remaining suspended for a day due to heavy snowfall, officials said, even as massive road clearance operations continued across Jammu and Kashmir to restore connectivity on key highways.
Officials said the Airports Authority of India, in close coordination with the Border Roads Organisation, successfully cleared snow from the runway, apron and taxiways on Saturday morning following an improvement in weather conditions.
“A joint inspection was carried out and flight operations were resumed. A flight has already landed at the aerodrome,” officials at the airport said, adding that operations are expected to run largely smoothly.
However, an IndiGo flight scheduled for early morning was cancelled due to unfavourable weather, while a few other flights were cancelled owing to NOTAMs issued in Delhi. Some services also experienced delays, officials said.
Flight operations had been cancelled on Friday after a major snowfall led to the accumulation of snow on the runway.
Meanwhile, efforts were underway to restore traffic on the Srinagar–Jammu National Highway and other key roads that remained closed for the second consecutive day due to slippery conditions following snowfall.
Officials said hundreds of commuters were evacuated and provided food and shelter by the Indian Army, police and civil administration after they were stranded on the 270-kilometre Srinagar–Jammu National Highway, the only all-weather road connecting the Kashmir Valley with the rest of the country.
Deputy Superintendent of Police, Traffic National Highway (Banihal), S P Singh said snow clearance operations on NH-44 were in the final stages and stranded vehicles on both sides of the highway would be cleared on priority.
“Over 900 vehicles are stranded in the Ramban sector, while more than 2,000 others, including trucks carrying essential commodities, are waiting for clearance to move towards Jammu, Udhampur, Kulgam and Anantnag,” Singh said.
He added that some stretches along the Ramsoo–Banihal sector remain slippery, prompting road agencies to sprinkle salt and urea to improve driving conditions. Normal traffic is expected to resume once stranded vehicles are cleared, he said.
The Army carried out multiple rescue and relief operations along the NH-44 axis amid heavy snowfall and sub-zero temperatures. Troops from Nachlana Army Camp responded to distress calls from stranded civilians and tourists, providing food, drinking water, hot beverages and first aid.
In one such operation, 32 martial arts cadets of Warriors Taekwondo Academy, accompanied by coaches and parents, were evacuated to Nachlana Camp after being stranded due to intense snowfall. They were provided warm meals, clothing, medical assistance and shelter until conditions improved, officials said.
Army personnel also assisted 65 stranded passengers at Sangaldan Railway Station, supplying essential items after braving heavy snowfall on Friday.
A traffic department official said several other roads, including the Mughal Road, Sinthan Top road, Srinagar–Leh National Highway and dozens of internal roads across districts, remained closed due to snowfall.
“People are advised not to travel until these roads are restored and declared safe,” the official said.
The BRO is also engaged in restoring the Jammu–Rajouri–Poonch National Highway, which remains closed between Rajouri and Jarran Wali Gali in Poonch following heavy snowfall.
Officials said moderate to heavy snowfall was recorded in high-altitude areas of the Jammu region, including tourist destinations such as Patnitop, Nathatop and Bhaderwah, while rainfall in the plains, including Jammu city, ended a dry spell of over two months. Some areas of Rajouri, Doda and Udhampur witnessed snowfall after more than a decade, they added.
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