NVI Correspondent
Srinagar, Nov 20(NVI): The Meteorological department Kashmir today said that weather will stay dry till November 30 and the night temperatures will further fall in Srinagar and go up to minus 1.5. It said in the hilly areas there was a possibility that the night temperature may plummet up to minus 5 degrees Celsius.
Hinting at the harsh winter ahead in Kashmir, the Deputy Director Meteorological department Kashmir Dr Mukhtar Ahmed said that the minus 0.7 degrees Celsius temperatures in Srinagar on the night of November 19-20 has already allowed the winter to set in. “The arrival of winter is very harsh in Kashmir. As far as the weather patterns there is a feeble western disturbance predicted for November 23-24 that may slightly improve the weather system for a while. But overall prediction is for very harsh winter conditions,” he said.
Dr Mukhtar said that till November 30, there is a prediction for further fall in the night temperatures and the night temperature may dip to 1 or 1.5 degrees Celsius in plain areas while as in the hilly areas, it is set fall up to minus 4 and minus 5 degrees Celsius.
Independent weather forecaster Faizan Arif said that the weather forecast for till November 30 is for dry weather and there is very weak western disturbance on cards for November 23-24. “After that, temperatures are set to fall and touch minus 1 degrees Celsius in Srinagar and minus 4 degrees Celsius in other districts of Kashmir especially hilly areas like Gulmarg, Pahalgam and Sonamarg etc.
Asked whether Kashmir was witnessing unusual weather in November month, Arif said there was nothing abnormal about minus temperatures in November. “Last year, November 20 recorded minus 1.8 degrees Celsius night temperatures. So thing abnormal,” he said, adding that “Kashmir being the part of global community is also witnessing global warming and can’t escape this reality.” (NVI)
