Srinagar, Jan 31 (Reporter) The upper reaches of Kashmir received a decent spell of snow, while plains including Srinagar were lashed by rains, the Meteorological (MeT) department said on Wednesday. The snowfall is predicted to occur in the next 24 hours and then again over the weekend. The higher reaches of the valley, including the ski resort of Gulmarg in north Kashmir’s Baramulla district, received snowfall, and the snow depth was 26 cm this morning. The snowfall has been reported from the upper reaches of Kupwara, Ganderbal, Anantnag, Shopian, and Kulgam districts of Kashmir. Due to intermittent light to moderate snow over the past three days over higher reaches, significant snow has accumulated over the higher reaches of the North and Northwestern parts of Kashmir Division, which has led to the temporary closure of roads in the higher reaches and important passes. The historic Mughal Road connecting south Kashmir’s Shopian district with Poonch in the Pir Panjal area of Jammu Province remained closed due to heavy snowfall. The Srinagar-Leh Highway is also closed. The valley witnessed a prolonged dry spell this winter, with no snowfall in the plains during the 40-day Chillai Kalan—the harshest phase of winter—that ended Tuesday. MeT said there is possibility of light to moderate rain or snow at many places in J&K towards late afternoon and evening onwards till Thursday morning and forenoon, with chances of heavy snowfall over a few higher reaches of North, Northwestern, and South Kashmir. “Few lower reaches and plains of the North, Northwestern, and South Kashmir regions may receive snowfall depths of 6–8 inches, while plains of Central Kashmir may receive 2-4 inches during tonight and tomorrow morning,” the MeT said. Light to moderate rain or snow will continue until February 4. The weather is likely to remain dry from February 5–12. Meanwhile, there was an improvement in the nighttime temperature across the Kashmir valley. The summer capital, Srinagar, recorded a low of 2.2 degrees Celsius, against 0.8 degrees Celsius on the previous night...////...