Before the forecasted wet weather, summer-like conditions prevailed on Friday in Kashmir Valley, with a significant improvement in night temperatures that remained below freezing point at most stations. The bright sun and clear skies in Srinagar and other parts of the valley drew people and tourists to bask in its warmth at Lal Chowk, Partab Park, and along the banks of Dal Lake. Srinagar recorded a maximum temperature of 7.8°C above normal, reaching 9.9°C. The Meteorological Centre in Srinagar has predicted moderate to heavy rain and snowfall in Jammu and Kashmir from Sunday onwards, attributing it to an intense Western Disturbance expected to affect the region. The main activity of the disturbance is likely to occur during February 19-20, with light to moderate rain or snow expected in most places, including plains and lower reaches, and heavy snowfall anticipated in middle and higher reaches of several districts. The minimum temperature in Srinagar on the intervening night of Wednesday and Thursday settled at -1.6°C, which was 2.6°C below normal. Similarly, Qazigund recorded a low of -1.2°C, Kokernag 0.4°C, Pahalgam -4.2°C, Kupwara -2.4°C, and Gulmarg 3.4°C. Despite the cold, the improvement in temperatures has been noted, and people are enjoying the pleasant weather while also preparing for the forecasted wet conditions.
