Wet spell in Kashmir, more snow in Himachal this week

As the cold wave continues to sweep Kashmir, there has been slight improvement as the night temperature was recorded minus 6.4 degrees Celsius.

For the past one week, the Valley has been reeling under cold wave with the night temperature hovering around minus 7 to 8 degrees. IMD has predicted wet spell in Kashmir later this week which could end the cold wave.

IMD officials said that a Western Disturbance, winds blowing from the Mediterranean, is most likely to affect J&K and Kargil district of Ladakh between January 22 and 25 and the disturbances will give fairly widespread light to moderate snowfall and rains in plains of Jammu during the period with main activity on Jan 24.

In Himachal, even as the day temperatures are on a rise, the MeT department has predicted scattered to widespread rain and snow from January 23 onwards as a fresh Western Disturbance becomes active over the region.

The weather will remain dry till January 22. However, fresh spell of snow and rains is expected from January 23 onwards as a fresh western disturbance is likely to affect western Himalayan region, said Manmohan Singh, director, Shimla Meteorological Centre.

The state had last experienced snow and rains in the first week of January.

Meanwhile, Keylong continued to the coldest place with night temperature recorded at minus 4.7 degrees Celsius.

Shimla MeT centre director said the minimum temperature declined by one to two degrees Celsius.