Renowned meteorologist Sonam Lotus on Friday said there is no major flood threat to Kashmir, but warned that minor flooding, flash floods, landslides and waterlogging remain possible due to the ongoing spell of heavy rain.
Speaking to news agency Kashmir Indepth News Service (KINS) over the phone from Ladakh, Lotus said the current weather system is being driven by moisture from both the Arabian Sea and the Bay of Bengal, with the Arabian Sea contributing more to the rainfall.
He said the rain was expected and is likely to continue in parts of the Jammu region till tomorrow evening. After that, the weather system is expected to weaken and conditions will gradually improve.
Referring to concerns over the changing weather pattern, Lotus said such systems are not unusual.
He recalled that Jammu and Kashmir experienced a similar weather system during the devastating 2014 floods, although this time the moisture is mainly coming from the Arabian Sea.
Expressing grief over the loss of lives in recent rain-related incidents, he offered his condolences to the affected families.
Lotus said there is no major flood threat to the Kashmir Valley, but cautioned that continuous rainfall has saturated the ground, increasing the chances of localized flooding, flash floods and landslides, especially in vulnerable areas.
“The land is fully saturated. People should avoid travelling to landslide- and flood-prone areas unless necessary and follow the advisories issued by the administration,” he said.
He also said it is too early to predict the coming winter, though this summer has remained cooler than last year because of frequent weather disturbances and an active monsoon.
Lotus said weather forecasting has improved significantly with the use of Doppler Weather Radars, satellite imagery and automatic weather stations, enabling more accurate and timely forecasts.
He urged people to stay alert, follow official weather updates and take precautions until the weather improves. (KINS)
