Srinagar, Feb 27: Higher reaches of Kashmir Valley received fresh snowfall while rains lashed plains of Kashmir Valley, weatherman said on Saturday.

A meteorological department official  said hat the Gulmarg, the world famous skiing resort in north Kashmir received rain or snow of 23.2mm in last 24 hours till 0830 hours. The resort, the venue for the ongoing second Khelo India Winter Games, also recorded a low of minus 2.2°C against minus 0.8°C earlier night, the official said. Reports about snowfall on other higher reaches were also received from other parts of the Valley.

The MeT official said that Srinagar recorded a low of 4.7°C against 8.0°C on the previous night. The temperature was 3.2 degrees Celsius above the normal for this time of the year in Srinagar where 9mm rainfall was recorded during the time, the official said.

Qazigund recorded a low of 2.2°C against 5.7°C on the previous night while the gateway town of J&K had 23.2mm of rainfall during the time. The mercury settled at 0.3°C at Pahalgam against 3.0°C on the earlier night while the famous health resort had 18.5mm of rainfall during the time.

Kokernag, also in south Kashmir, recorded a low of 0.1°C against 5.2°C on the previous night and had a rainfall of 31.4mm.

The minimum temperature settled at 0.7°C in Kupwara against 4.4°C on the previous night even as the northern Kashmir district recorded rainfall of 45.4mm, highest anywhere during the time, he said.

Sonam Lotus, Director Meteorological Department here, said that intermittent light to moderate rain in plains and snow over higher reaches of J&K was most likely to continue today. “There would be significant decrease in rain /snow from tomorrow onwards,” he said, adding, “Hilly areas may receive snowfall upto half to 1ft.”

In a statement, the MeT office has forecast fresh isolated and scattered rains from March 3 onwards after dry weather for March 1 and 2. (