Western Disturbances from Pakistan will cause snow in J

Srinagar, Jan 9 (UNI) The cold wave conditions prevailing in the Jammu and Kashmir for the past one week will ease during the next 48 hours as Western Disturbances have finally entered the state from Northern Pakistan.

''We are expecting isolated rain or snow during the next 48 hours besides increase in the night temperature which was several degree below normal during the past week,'' a weather office spokesman told UNI.

He said the night remained cold after the minimum temperature was recorded at 5.3 degree which was about 2.3 degree below normal in the Kashmir valley.

The parts of the world famous Dal Lake remained partially frozen.

The Lake was first frozen in early sixties and later in 1986 when boys were playing cricket over the frozen surface.

The spokesman said the day was also warm today as the temperature was about three degree above normal. However, with the arrival of Western Disturbances, the temperature during the day was less as comapred to past 72 hours when it rose to four to five degree above normal.

He said the night temperature will also improve now because of disturbances.

The spokesman said disturbances from Pakistan are necessary for rain and snowfall. We need a good snowfall for water during the summer, he said adding we expect the snowfall during the next 48 hours.

There was no let up in the cold in Kargil and Leh where the minimum temperature remained minus 20 and minus 30 degree respectively, disrupting normal life.

UNI