Jammu shivers at 6.3 °C as fog disrupts rail traffic
Jammu witnessed its first ‘cold day’ of the season on Wednesday as chilly northwesterly winds swept the city and the mercury dipped to six degrees Celsius, the lowest minimum temperature of this season, according to the Meteorological Department. Meanwhile, fog has also disrupted rail traffic today. Several incoming and outgoing trains were running late. As per the met department there will be no respite from prevailing foggy conditions for the next couple of days.
The maximum temperature was 19.8 degrees Celsius, about one degree below the normal and also the lowest of this season. Cold wave-like conditions prevailed in the city swept by chilly northwesterly winds on Wednesday, making Jammu shiver under inclement weather conditions. The relative humidity in the morning stood at 94 percent, and by evening it was recorded at 50 per cent. Meanwhile Kashmir’s harshest 40-day winter period ‘Chillai Kalan’ also commenced from today.
The weatherman has forecast mainly dry weather till December 25. Shallow FOG may develop during morning hours in plains of Jammu during next 22-24th(60% chance). From December 26 to 30, the weatherman has predicted generally cloudy Sky with intermittent light to Moderate Snow at scattered places of Kashmir, higher reaches of Jammu and light rain in plains of Jammu(60℅chance).
In its advisory the MeT department has forecasted snowfall and below freezing temperature may lead to temporary disruption of surface transportation on places like Mughal road, Zojila, Karna, Sadna top etc. during 26-27th, although there’s However the MeT department has clarified that there is no forecast of any Major Snow spell.
In Jammu division, Banihal was the coldest at 0.6 degrees; however the Jammu district witnessed 6.3 degrees during the night. Katra recorded 9.1 degrees. Leh and Kargil in Ladakh froze at -9.6°C.
However, the rainfall during this year’s monsoon was normal after two years of deficit with Kashmir valley receiving 270mm average rainfall from June 1 to September 29, an increase of 6% than the normal of 254 mm. Similarly, Jammu division experienced 886mm average rainfall in the four monsoon months, an increase of 7% than the normal 826 mm.
