MeT predicts moderate rain in Jammu and Kashmir for 2 Days

*MeT predicts wet spell to continue till weekend*

*Heavy vehicles carrying essentials to move on highway today*

As per Meteorological Department officials, plains in the Valley received a light to moderate rainfall since Tuesday night while upper reaches including Sonamarg and Zojila received light snowfall. MeT officials said the ongoing wet spell was likely to continue till end of this week.

*Director MeT, Sonam Lotus said a current Western Disturbance, which brings a change in weather, was likely to continue for the next three days.* Lotus said rain with thunderstorm is likely to continue at scattered places of J&K, Ladakh especially between Friday and Saturday.

“Presently it is generally cloudy in Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh. Light to moderate rain with thunderstorm is most likely at scattered to fairly widespread places of Jammu and Kashmir on April 17 and 18,” Lotus said. “There is also possibility of strong gusty winds till Saturday. Overall, weather is likely to remain erratic during this week in Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh,” Lotus said. Lotus said weather has remained cloudy in Ladakh region while some places of Kargil district was likely to receive fresh snowfall over the weekend.

As per MeT officials, while summer capital Srinagar received 8.8 millimeters of rainfall between Tuesday and Wednesday, Qazigund received 35.8 mm rainfall, Kokernag received 12.8 mm, Kupwara recorded 22.6 mm rainfall. Rain accompanied by hailstorm was also reported from various parts of the Valley. Ski-resort Gulmarg received 23.2 mm rainfall bringing down the temperature while it received a hailstorm which lasted for almost 30 minutes. MeT officials said the higher reaches of Sonamarg and Zojila also received a fresh spell of snowfall.

Highway open for trucks carrying essentials:

Traffic on the 270-kilometer Srinagar-Jammu National Highway was disrupted briefly in the morning due to landslides. However, traffic was soon restored and vehicles carrying essentials were allowed to move towards Valley, Traffic Police officials said.

A traffic advisory issued here said only trucks and other heavy vehicles carrying essentials will be allowed on the highway on Thursday. It said movement of vehicular traffic was subject to fair weather and conditions of the road.

The Mughal Road connecting Shopian district to Pir Panchal remained closed for traffic due to accumulation of snow while Srinagar-Leh National Highway which was recently thrown open for trucks carrying essentials remained closed on Wednesday due to fresh snowfall at Zojila. Traffic Police officials said subject to weather and re-opening of the Srinagar-Leh National Highway, traffic will be allowed from Srinagar to Leh on Thursday.