Red alert for rain: Major five-day wet spell to lash J&K Jammu and Kashmir is preparing for a prolonged period of intense rainfall, with the Meteorological Department forecasting widespread rain, heavy downpours, and the possibility of cloudburst-like events between July 19 and July 23. Authorities have issued advisories urging residents, pilgrims, and tourists to remain cautious as the weather system is expected to trigger multiple hazards across the Union Territory. The weather advisory, issued by the Meteorological Department in Srinagar, highlights that the extended wet spell is likely due to a rare interaction between moisture-laden winds from the Arabian Sea and the Bay of Bengal, combined with the northward shift of the western end of the monsoon trough toward Jammu. This system is projected to bring widespread moderate rain and thundershowers across Jammu and Kashmir, with isolated heavy rainfall in the Kashmir division between July 21 and 23. The Jammu division is expected to face scattered heavy to very heavy rainfall from July 20 to 23, with Reasi and Udhampur districts at the highest risk of extremely heavy downpours. Dr. Mukhtar Ahmad, Director of the Meteorological Centre in Srinagar, emphasized the potential for weather-related hazards. "We expect widespread rainfall activity during the next five days. Some places, particularly in Jammu division, may receive heavy to very heavy rainfall, while isolated heavy showers are also likely in parts of Kashmir. People are advised to follow official advisories and avoid unnecessary travel to vulnerable areas during periods of intense rainfall," he stated. The advisory warns of flash floods, landslides, mudslides, shooting stones, and cloudburst-like events, especially along the Pir Panjal range and other mountainous regions.#meteorological_department #jammu_and_kashmir #dr_mukhtar_ahmad #amarnath_yatra #pir_panjal_range
