New Delhi:
Get ready for yet another spell of cold weather in North India. Heavy snowfall in the hill states like Himachal Pradesh and Jammu and Kashmir have sent the mercury plummeting to freezing point.
The plains have also witnessed a drop in temperature as heavy rain lashed parts of Punjab and Haryana.
The Jammu-Srinagar National Highway, the only road link to the Valley, was closed for vehicular traffic on Saturday following heavy snowfall and rains. "The highway is closed for traffic due to heavy snowfall at Jawahar Tunnel, Banihal and Patnitop areas resulting in blockade," police said.
Srinagar experienced slight rainfall with mercury plummeting to freezing point before dawn and rising to 7 degree Celsius in the day, three notches below normal.
Higher reaches of Himachal Pradesh, including Shimla, witnessed fresh snowfall and rains. A 5 cm thick white blanket covered 'Queen of Hills' Shimla in the morning, but it was melted by succeeding rains.
Intermittent sleet brought down mercury during the day to 4.4 degrees Celsius from Friday's reading of 10.6 degree Celsius, while in night it reached freezing point.
Manali recorded 15 cm of snowfall, while Bhang, Palchang and Solang Nallah ski slopes received 20 cm to 40 cm of fresh snow. The Manali-Leh Highway was blocked beyond Bhang, 4-Km from Manali, after slush rendered road slippery.
Kumarsain in Shimla district was the wettest place in the region with 50 mm of rains. MeT officials have predicted more snowfall and rains in the region in the next four days.
Uttarakhand also experienced isolated snowfall and rains in the higher reaches, bringing down day temperature.
Almora, Chamoli, Pithoragarh, Rudraprayag, Uttarkashi, Pauri and upper reaches of Nanital in the state experienced snowfall.
State capital Dehradun recorded a low of 9 degree Celsius while the maximum temperature was 22 degrees, a notch below normal.
In Delhi, early morning showers and partly clouded sky made the day pleasant with maximum temperature staying below normal at 22.6 degree Celsius, while during night the reading was 12 degree Celsius. The city received 10 mm of rainfall.
Weathermen have forecast shallow fog on Sunday morning with clear sky, but becoming cloudy by the evening.
The maximum and the minimum will be around 25 and 10 degree Celsius respectively.
In plains of Punjab and Haryana, rains lashed many places with Patiala being wettest place in the region receiving 11.6 mm of rain. Rohtak, Gurgaon and Karnal in Haryana received rainfall of 10.2 mm, 10mm and 9mm respectively.
Chandigarh, which received moderate rainfall, had a maximum of 22 degree Celsius, three places below normal. In night, the reading was 11 degree Celsius.
There are also reports of rain in west Rajasthan, with capital Jaipur recording a high of 26 degree Celsius and a low of 14 degree Celsius. Uttar Pradesh had mainly dry weather with Lucknow having a maximum of 26 degree Celsius and a minimum of 10 degree Celsius.