Wintry chill returns to Kashmir as rain, snow keep temperatures below normal

Srinagar: A brief return of winter-like conditions gripped Kashmir on Friday, with fresh snowfall in the higher reaches and widespread rainfall across the plains, even as temperatures have remained below normal for the past few days.

Officials said upper reaches, including tourist hill rations Gulmarg, Pahalgam and Sonamarg, received fresh snowfall, while plains such as Srinagar witnessed intermittent rain under the influence of an active western disturbance.

The ongoing wet spell has further pushed down temperatures that had already dipped earlier this week. In Srinagar, the maximum temperature has been hovering several degrees below normal over the past few days, prolonging the chill and delaying the onset of typical spring conditions.

According to the Meteorological Department, the prevailing weather is part of a larger western disturbance affecting Jammu and Kashmir, bringing light to moderate rainfall in the plains and snowfall in higher altitudes.

The extended spell of below-normal temperatures marks a sharp contrast to the largely dry and warmer-than-usual winter earlier this year. While the precipitation is expected to benefit agriculture and replenish water sources, it has also led to a noticeable chill across the Valley.

The MeT department has forecast generally cloudy conditions with intermittent rain and snowfall at isolated places over the next 24-hours, with gradual improvement expected thereafter.