The meteorological department has predicted a three-day wet spell from 22 January onward.
Director MeT Sonam Lotus said they are expecting another wet spell of snow and rains from 22 January onwards in the valley.
“Western disturbances are likely to affect Jammu and Kashmir during 22-24th January, which may cause moderate rains and snowfall in the valley. We will update it on Saturday evening about more details,” he said.
However Lotus said the weather will remain mainly dry till 21st January in both J&K and Ladakh.
On Friday, a thick layer of fog engulfed valley parts in the morning which affected the traffic along the vital roads in Kashmir.
As per MeT officials, the summer capital Srinagar recorded the minimum temperature of minus 7.6°C, an increase of nearly one degree from the previous night’s minus 8.4°C, which was the coldest temperature recorded after 29 years.
Ski resort Gulmarg in Baramulla recorded a low of minus 5.7°C against minus 7.0°C on Friday night, Pahalgam recorded minus 8.6°C, Qazigund recorded a low of minus 8.3°C, Kokernag recorded a low of minus 8.4°C and Kupwara settled at minus 5.7°C.
In Ladakh, Leh recorded a low of minus 11.6°C, Kargil recorded minus 17.6°C while Drass was coldest at minus 25.3°C.
An official at Srinagar International Airport told Kashmir Post that a few morning flights were delayed following the low visibility on the track due to fog.
“After the visibility was clear, the flights were operated normally,” the official said.
Meanwhile, the minimum temperatures continued far below than the normal in other parts of the valley, settling at minus
The cold wave has resulted in the freezing of some water bodies, including the fringes of the famous Dal and Nigeen Lakes, and residential water supply pipes in many areas of the city and other towns of the Valley.
The Valley received heavy snowfall between January 3 and 5, which resulted in closure of the 270-kilometer Srinagar-JammuHighway and suspension of flights at Srinagar Airport for four days.
As per traffic advisory, Jammu-Srinagar highway shall remain closed due to collapse of the road near Kela Morh, Ramban.
“Restoration work is in progress. However, Jammu-Doda-Kishtwar, Jammu-Ramban-Gool Sangaldan, and Magerkot-Banihal-Qazigund stretches are through for local traffic. People are advised to take their journey accordingly,” it said.
However, Mughal Road, the alternate road-link which connects the valley to PirPanjal through the Shopian-Rajouri axis is still closed for traffic due to heavy snowfall since December 19.
An official at the traffic department said more than 7000 vehicles are stranded on both sides of the highway and they will be allowed only after the bridge is functional for the traffic.
