Srinagar, Nov 13: Fresh snowfall blanketed many upper reaches of Kashmir on Friday with Sadhna Top and Razdan Pass receiving more than one feet of snow and many other areas including Srinagar received rainfall, bringing down temperatures and intensifying cold conditions across the Valley.
A MeT official said due to Western Disturbance, moderate to heavy snowfall was reported in upper reaches of north and central Kashmir including Kupwara, Bandipora and Ganderbal districts while several tourist destinations also received fresh snow.
Sadhna Top in Kupwara and Razdan Pass in Bandipora received more than one feet of snow during the past 24 hours, while Sinthan Top recorded around eight to ten inches of fresh accumulation.
Z-Gali and Margan Top received six to eight inches of snow each, while Zojila Pass recorded five to six inches and Pir Ki Gali received between five and eight inches.
Baltal in Ganderbal district experienced four to six inches of snowfall, while Gurez Valley in Bandipora received three to five inches.
The tourist destination of Sonamarg received around two to three inches of fresh snowfall while Gulmarg in north Kashmir's Baramulla district recorded around one centimetre of snow.
Fresh snowfall was also reported from the higher reaches of Pahalgam, Doodhpathri and several mountainous areas of south Kashmir, besides parts of Doda and Rajouri districts in the Jammu region.
Meanwhile, rainfall was reported from several parts of Kashmir including Srinagar during the preceding 24 hours with Baramulla recording the highest precipitation at 49.5 mm, followed by Gulmarg at 40.6 mm and Kupwara at 37.3 mm.
The wet spell brought a noticeable decline in daytime temperatures across the Valley, with cold conditions prevailing in several districts.
Srinagar recorded a maximum temperature of 10.4 degrees Celsius on Thursday, which was 5.5 degrees below normal, while Gulmarg registered 4 degrees Celsius.
Kupwara recorded a maximum temperature of 8.4 degrees Celsius, while Qazigund registered 13 degrees Celsius and Pahalgam 10.4 degrees Celsius.
The Meteorological Department had earlier predicted a decline of six to eight degrees Celsius in daytime temperatures during November 12 and 13 under the influence of the Western Disturbance.
According to the MeT forecast, a brief spell of light rainfall in the plains and light snowfall over higher reaches remains possible at scattered places during November 13 and 14.
However, the intensity of the prevailing weather system is expected to decrease gradually, with generally dry weather forecast across Jammu and Kashmir from November 15 to 21.
The Meteorological Centre has also advised farmers to resume agricultural activities from November 15, taking into account the expected improvement in weather conditions.
Meanwhile, Srinagar-Jammu National Highway (NH-44) remained open for two-way vehicular traffic today.
According to traffic police, passenger light motor vehicles (LMVs), private cars, heavy motor vehicles (HMVs) and security force convoys were permitted to move from both Jammu and Srinagar.
Although traffic was moving from both directions, authorities cautioned motorists about slow movement at certain vulnerable stretches, particularly near Dewal in Udhampur district, where the road surface remains uneven, and between Maroog and Kishtwari Pather in Ramban district, where a narrow, single-lane stretch continues to affect traffic flow.
Meanwhile, the Mughal Road, connecting Valley with the Pir Panjal region, remained closed to vehicular traffic due to snowfall, with snow clearance operations continuing along the route.
The Kishtwar-Anantnag road via Sinthan Top also remained closed following accumulation of snow, disrupting vehicular movement through the mountainous stretch.
On Srinagar-Leh National Highway, traffic movement was affected by snowfall at Zojila Pass. The highway was closed earlier in the day, although restricted one-way movement of light motor vehicles subsequently resumed from Sonamarg towards Minamarg.
The Bandipora-Gurez road also remained closed to vehicular traffic from both sides following snowfall along the route.