Srinagar, Mar 31: After three days, weather conditions improved in Kashmir region and Meteorological Department has forecasted mainly dry and clear weather till April 6th in the region, officials said.

Director MeT Srinagar, DrMukhtar Ahmad told Rising Kashmir that plains in Kashmir witnessed light to moderate rains while upper reaches received snowfall till Sunday morning. Some places witnessed thunder/Lightning accompanied by gusty winds over plains of Kashmir and Jammu Division, he said.

“From 1st to 6th April, the weather will remain mostly dry and clear. There is no forecast of any major spell during the period. There will be a rise in minimum temperature and increase in day temperature during the period,” he said.

DrMukhtar said that from 6th April evening, weather will remain generally cloudy with light Rain, snow at scattered places in Kashmir region.

On Sunday, the minimum temperature was recorded in Srinagar settled 4.8 degrees Celsius and maximum 16.9, followed by maximum temperature in Qazigund 14.9 degrees Celsius, Pahalgam 15.8 degrees Celsius, Kupwara 17.3 degrees Celsius, Kokernag 14.1 degrees Celsius, and Gulmarg 6.0 degrees Celsius,” the MeT office said.

Meanwhile,  upper reaches including Sonamarg, Gulmarg, and higher reaches of Kupwara received light snowfall. Srinagar received 20.0 mm of rainfall during the past 24 hours while Qazigund received 21.4 mm of rainfall, Pahalgam 25.2 mm of rainfall, Kupwara17.4  mm of rainfall, Kokernag 26.2 mm of rainfall, Gulmarg 2.5 Cms of snowfall and 10.8 mm rainfall.

Meanwhile, the 270 Kilometres Srinagar-Jammu highway was closed for more than 15 hours on Sunday and was restored in the late evening.

A traffic police spokesman said that during the past 24 hours, there was slow movement observed on NH-44 due to single lane traffic at KishtwariPather, restoration work is in progress, he said.

He said no HMVs (Load carrier) shall be allowed from Srinagar towards Jammu and vice-versa on Jammu-Srinagar NHW (NH-44) in view of urgent repairs/upgradation of Airstrip stretch along NH-44 near Bijbehara, Anantnag on 01-04-2024 (Monday) from 0400 hrs to 0700 hrs (Tuesday) on 02-04-2024. Truckers are advised to avoid journeys on Jammu Srinagar NHW on 01-04-2024 (Monday) from 0400 hrs to 0700 hrs (Tuesday) on 02-04-2024 and plan their journey accordingly, he said.

“On Monday, subject to fair weather and good road condition, LMVs Passenger/Private Cars shall be allowed from both sides on Jammu-Srinagar NHW viz Jammu towards Srinagar and vice-versa. However, HMVs shall be allowed from NAVYUG Tunnel (Qazigund side) towards Jammu after assessing the road condition,” he said.

The spokesman said that the cut off timing for LMVs in view of single road at Dalwas (subject to change depending on road condition) from Nagrota (Jammu) 0600 hrs to 1100 hrs from Jakheni(Udhampur) 0700 hrs to 1200 hrs& from NAVYUG Tunnel (Qazigund side) 0600 hrs to 1100 hrs. No Vehicle shall be allowed after cut off timing.

He said restoration work is underway on Mughal Road and no traffic movement will be allowed on Monday due to accumulation of heavy snow along the highways.