Scattered to widespread rains, snow forecast in J&K*Srinagar,

*Scattered to widespread rains, snow forecast in J&K*Srinagar, Feb 26 (GNS): The weather department on Sunday forecast scattered to fairly widespread light rain in Jammu and Kashmir in next 24 hours.A meteorological department official here told GNS that scattered light rain and snow was also expected on February 28.“From March 1-2nd, light rain is expected in plains and light to moderate snow/rain over higher reaches at many places,” he said, adding, “Dry weather is expected during 3rd to 7th March.”Regarding temperature, he said, Srinagar recorded a low of 7.3°C against 1.6°C on the previous night and it was above normal by 5.8°C for the summer capital.Qazigund, he said, recorded a low of 5.2°C against 0.2°C on the previous night and it was 4.8°C above normal for the gateway town of Kashmir.Pahalgam, he said, recorded a low of 3.2°C against minus 3.2°C on the previous night and it was 6.7°C above normal for the famous tourist resort in south Kashmir’s Anantnag district.Kokernag recorded a low of 4.3°C against 2.5°C on the previous night and it was 4.2°C above normal for the place, the officials said.Gulmarg recorded a low of minus 1.6°C against minus 1.0°C on the previous night and it was 4.2°C above normal for the world famous skiing resort in north Kashmir’s Baramulla district, he said.In Kupwara town, he said, the mercury settled at 3.0°C against minus 0.3°C on the previous night and it was 3.0°C above normal for the north Kashmir area.Jammu recorded a low of 12.5°C against 11.2°C on the previous night. It was 0.9°C above normal for J&K’s winter capital, he said.Banihal, he said, recorded a low of 7.4°C (above normal by 5.2°C), Batote 9.0°C (above normal by 5.5°C), Katra 13.1°C (3.6°C above normal) and Bhadarwah 5.5°C (4.7°C above normal).Ladakh’s Leh and Kargil recorded a low of minus 6.6°C and 8.2°C respectively, the official said.While Chillai-Kalan, the 40-day long harsh winter period that started on December 21 and a 20-day-long period called ‘Chillai-Khurd’ that followed it have ended, Kashmir is under grip of 10-day-long period ‘Chillai-Bachha’ (baby cold) which ends on March 1. (GNS)