The continuous dry spell in the Valley is expected to end next week as Metrological department has predicted light rains between November 14 and 15.
“We are expecting a spell of light rain between November 14 and 15,” Director Meteorological department, Sonam Lotus, told.
The likely rainfall would end the long dry spell in the Valley.
Lotus said as far as his observation is concerned, longest dry spells in the past couple of decades were witnessed in 2016 and 2017.
“There have been dry spells in past too but not long like this. Another important thing is that there is an increasing trend in the dry spells and this year the trend continued,” he said.
Lotus said in June 73.9 mm rainfall was recorded in Kashmir while in July 34.4 mm, August 24.4 mm and in September 16.3 mm rainfall was recorded.
“From mid-September 2016 to January 2017, Kashmir recorded only 5 mm of rainfall against the normal rainfall of 100 mm,” he said.
He said Kashmir had also witnessed a long dry spell in 2007 but that had lasted for three months only.
“No rainfall was recorded in October, November and December in 2007. However, in 2016 the dry spell extended for five months,” Lotus said.
Kashmir received isolated rains at few places on August 14 and light rainfall in September.
On October 15, upper reaches of the ski resort of Gulmarg received season’s first snowfall, which caused a sudden dip in temperature especially in higher reaches.