Owais Gul
Srinagar, Jul 25: Jammu and Kashmir has seen a drastic decline in the precipitation this year so far with figures revealing that since January 01 2024 to July 25, the Union Territory has recorded a deficient rainfall of 27 per cent.
However, as the precipitation this month is still less, the people of Kashmir have been witnessing severe heat wave conditions with Srinagar recording a maximum temperature of 34.5 degree Celsius on Thursday.
The heat wave has tightened its grip in some parts of Kashmir where the mercury has settled above nearly 6 degree Celsius today.
In Srinagar, the mercury has settled at 34.5 degree Celsius, which was 1.1 degree less than yesterday while Kokernag has also recorded 5.4 degree Celsius above than normal temperature as the mercury settled at 32.8 degree Celsius.
Qazigund, a gateway of Kashmir and Kupwara in north Kashmir too have recorded 5.1 degree Celsius and 4.0 degree Celsius above than normal temperature respectively as the mercury at the twin places settled at 33.0 degree Celsius and 35.1 degree Celsius respectively.
With this temperature, the heat wave has gripped these places today amidst the forecast of severe heat wave in the Valley for the next three days.
However, Jammu division too has recorded a similar hot and humid weather conditions as according to the details, the mercury in Jammu city has settled at 35.6 degree Celsius while in Katra and Batote, it settled at 31.4 degree Celsius and 28.8 degree Celsius respectively.
However, Jammu and Kashmir overall has recorded deficient rainfall since the inception of this year.
According to the details available, the J&K has recorded a deficient rainfall of 27 per cent till July 25.
In January and February months, a deficient rainfall of 48 per cent was recorded; details shared by a private Weather forecaster reveals, adding that against the normal precipitation of 225.5 mm during the period, 117.1 mm rainfall was recorded only.
However from March to May, the Union Territory has recorded a deficient rainfall of nine percent only. During the period, 300.6 mm rainfall was recorded in J&K against the normal precipitation of 330.0 mm.
However, since June to July 25, a deficient rainfall of 33 per cent has been recorded in Jammu & Kashmir. Overall, there has been a deficiency of 27 per cent rainfall in J&K from January 01 2024 to July 25, 2024.
An Independent Weather Forecaster, Faizan Arif Keng has stated that this year, Western Disturbances have largely avoided Jammu and Kashmir. After a significant deficit in January, some recovery was seen in February, and the region experienced near-normal rainfall from March to May. However, since June, monsoon conditions have been very weak, particularly over the past 20 days, leading to low water levels in streams and rivers, he said.
“The rainfall during this monsoon season in Kashmir has primarily been due to Western Disturbances. Despite much of India experiencing normal to excess rainfall, monsoon conditions in Jammu and Kashmir have remained weak. There appears to be an inverse relationship between monsoon rainfall in India and Jammu and Kashmir, especially evident in recent years,” he added.
Moreover, Director Meteorological department (MeT), Dr Mukhtar Ahmad has predicted the possibility of rainfall from July 29, saying that the ongoing heat wave is expected to end by the end of this month.
Nonetheless, the weatherman has also informed that due to the prevailing heat conditions and the deficient rainfall, there has been an impact on the crops as well.
