SRINAGAR, 02 Jan :the weather office Monday said rain and snow were likely to lash the plains and the higher reaches from Wednesday onwards.

"Due to an approaching western disturbance (WD), rain is likely in the plains from the afternoon of January 4 while the mountains surrounding the valley would receive snowfall during this period. The weather disturbance would increase gradually and would start weakening after January 7," Sonam Lotus, director of the local meteorological office, said.

'Western disturbance' is a term used in India, Pakistan, Nepal and Bangladesh to describe an extra-tropical storm in the Mediterranean Sea that causes sudden rain and snow in South Asia. The WD plays an important role in the production of 'Rabi' (winter) crops in these countries.