KO File Photo By Abid Bhat
2 Back-To-Back Western Disturbances To Bring Rain, Snowfall, Says Met Office
Srinagar- With two back-to-back Western Disturbances “mostly likely” affecting Jammu and Kashmir from January 7 evening, meteorological department on Friday forecast light to moderate snowfall in Jammu and Kashmir for nearly seven days beginning Saturday.
“Two back to back Western Disturbances (are) most likely to affect J&K and adjoining from 7th January (evening),” a meteorological department official said, adding, “Under The influence of the 1st WD 7th (evening) to 9th January(afternoon), weather is likely to be cloudy with possibility of light snow over higher reaches during 7th night and light rain/snow over plains of J&K and light to moderate snow in middle and higher reaches during January 8th/9th.” From January 9th (afternoon) to 11th January (afternoon), he said, weather is likely to be cloudy with possibility of light snow over isolated higher reaches of Kashmir.
“Under the influence of the 2nd WD from January 11th(afternoon) to 13th January(afternoon), the weather is expected to be cloudy with possibility of light rain/snow over plains of Jammu and Kashmir and light to moderate snow over middle and higher reaches during 12/13 January.”
He advised travelers and transporters to plan their journey accordingly especially over Sonamarg-Zojila-Gumni axis, Razdan pass, Sinthan pass, Sadhna pass, Mughal Road etc.
“There is going to be an improvement in minimum (night) temperature and dip in maximum (day) temperature.”
Meanwhile, severe cold conditions continued in Kashmir Valley even as there was a slight rise in the minimum temperature on Friday.
The meteorological department official said that Srinagar recorded a low of minus 5.5°C against last night’s minus 6.4°C that was coldest for the season so far. Today’s minimum temperature was 3.6°C below normal.
Qazigund recorded a low of minus 5.6°C against minus 6.2°C, the lowest recorded this season for the gateway town of Kashmir. Today’s minimum temperature was 2.7°C below normal, he said.
Pahalgam, he said, recorded a low of minus 8.6°C against minus 9.2°C on the previous night. The coldest night recorded this season in the famous tourist resort in south Kashmir’s Anantnag district was on January 2 when mercury plunged to minus 9.6°C, he said. Today’s minimum temperature was 1.6°C below normal for the place, he said.
Kokernag recorded a low of minus 4.3°C against minus 4.4°C on the previous night, he said. It was 0.3°C below normal for the place, he said.
Gulmarg recorded a low of minus 5.0°C against minus 7.5°C on the previous night, the official said. It was 2.8°C above normal for the world famous skiing resort in north Kashmir’s Baramulla district which recorded its coldest night on January 2 when minimum temperature plummeted to minus 10.0°C, the official said.
In Kupwara town, the mercury settled at minus 5.6°C against minus 6.0°C on the previous night in the north Kashmir area, he said. The official said that the temperature was 2.9°C below normal.
Jammu recorded a low of 3.7°C against 3.0°C on the previous night. It was 3.7°C below normal for J&K’s winter capital, he said.
Banihal recorded a low of 5.4°C (above normal by 5.4°C), Batote 3.6°C (above normal by 2.1°C), Katra 4.6°C (1.4°C below normal) and Bhadarwah minus 0.6°C (1.6°C below normal).
In Ladakh, Leh and Kargil recorded a low of minus 14.6°C and minus 18.1°C respectively, the official said.
Kashmir is under the grip of Chillai-Kalan, the 40-day long harsh winter period that started on December 21. It does not mean an end to the winter either. It is followed by a 20-day-long period called ‘Chillai-Khurd’ that occurs between January 30 and February 19 and a 10-day-long period ‘Chillai-Bachha’ (baby cold) which is from February 20 to March 1.
Health Dept Asks Staff To Gear Up
Director Health Services Kashmir on Friday directed all Chief Medical Officers, Medical Superintendents and Block Medical Officers to mobilize and gear up all the resources in view of the prediction of snow, so that the patients are managed properly and referrals are avoided.
“In view of prediction of snow in valley notified by the Meteorological Department, all the Chief Medical Officers/Medical Superintendents & Block Medical Officers are hereby enjoined upon to mobilize & gear-up all the resources in terms of Doctors, Paramedics, availability of drugs in sufficient quantity, readiness of fleet of Ambulances, ensuring power backup, Setting-up of Control Rooms at District as well as at the level of Sub District Hospitals and heating arrangements in all Government Health Care Institutions across the valley, so that the patients are managed properly and timely, besides, referrals to the Tertiary Care Hospitals are avoided especially when all the roads remain cut off during the snow in Valley.” reads the circular issued by Director Health Services Kashmir.
“They will also ensure that the border/hard to reach areas, which may remain cut off during winters, have adequate medicines (emergency drugs, Oxygen Cylinders), placing of curtains on doors, covering of windows with polythene wherever needed to keep the hospitals warm.” It states further.
Besides, all the Chief Medical Officers/Medical Superintendents, Block Medical Officers, Doctors (Medical Officers/ Consultants) and Paramedical staff shall remain stationed at their present place of postings during snow fall,” the Circular reads.
“Any deviation from the circular instructions shall invite disciplinary action under rules,” it adds further
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