After nearly two months long cold dry spell, the Kashmir valley has been witnessing first snowfall of the season since Wednesday evening. AIR correspondent reports that while mild snowfall mixed with rain lashed the planes of the valley, the tourist resorts of Gulmarg and Pahelgam are experiencing a speedy moderate snowfall. Snowfall across the Kashmir Valley today forced closure of the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway and schools. The schools in the valley were kept open to compensate for the loss in studies suffered by students during the summer unrest.In Jammu and Kashmir, the higher reaches of the Jammu region especially world famous Shri Mata Vaishno devi Cave Shrine and tourist place Patnitop, Nathatop and Sanasar received first light to moderate snowfall of the season, while mostly plains lashed by rains. Snowfall started at about mid-night at was continuing till morning. This has raised hope of the hoteliers and other persons related to tourism for a better business in the coming days as snowfall has already brought happiness for the tourists camping at Patnitop for New Year celebrations. Advancing western disturbances towards Jammu and Kashmir have caused snowfall and rain according to MET official.Coordinator in the Natural Disaster Management Cell Aamir Ali said, more than 1.25 feet snow had accumulated at Qazigund, the gateway town to Kashmir Valley, in Anantnag district. The road clearance work is in progress and a decision on allowing traffic would depend on the weather conditions. The snowfall across the Valley also led authorities to order closure of schools.Another official of the Divisional Administration in Kashmir said, the schools have been closed due to snowfall which has resulted in many roads getting blocked, and to avoid inconvenience to the students.The snowfall, which ended a two-month dry spell in the Valley also led to power disruptions in many parts while a large number of telephone connections were also snapped. The electricity supply has been suspended as a precautionary measure. Heavy snow fall is continue in high reaches of Himachal Pradesh whereas very heavy snowfall reported on high peaks of state along with insistent wide spread rainfall lashing the entire state which was continue for last 24 hrs in the State. Tourist resort of Shimla including Narkanda and Kufri reported 8 cm snowfall each while highreaches of Manali including Paltan, Koti and Solang-nalah received about 18 cm snowfall each when lofty 13050 ft high Rohtang Pass reported more than 2 ft. thick snowfall so far.There are very bright chances of snowfall in Shimla and Manali as temperature is keeping low at most part of state. Weather could be memorable to the tourists who likely to throng the town to celebrate New Year here