Sajid Raina
Srinagar, Feb 23: Several parts of Kashmir recorded maximum temperatures 10 to 11 degrees Celsius above normal on Monday, even as the Meteorological Department forecast a dry spell across J&K till the end of February.
Srinagar, the summer capital recorded a maximum temperature of 21.0 degrees Celsius, which was 10 degrees above normal for this time of the year.
Qazigund registered 21.2 degrees Celsius, 11.1 degrees above normal, while Pahalgam recorded 17.3 degrees Celsius, nearly 9.8 degrees above normal. Kupwara settled at 20.6 degrees Celsius, 10.5 degrees above normal, and Kokernag recorded 19.0 degrees Celsius, over 10 degrees above the seasonal average.
The ski resort of Gulmarg recorded a maximum of 11.2 degrees Celsius, over 9 degrees above normal.
In the Jammu region, Jammu recorded a high of 25.0 degrees Celsius, 2.7 degrees above normal. Banihal registered 20.2 degrees Celsius, while Batote and Bhaderwah recorded 19.4 degrees and 20.1 degrees Celsius respectively, all above normal limits. Katra also recorded 25.0 degrees Celsius, nearly five degrees above normal.
In Ladakh, Leh recorded 7.0 degrees Celsius, Kargil 9.3 degrees Celsius and Nubra Valley 11.1 degrees Celsius.
The MeT department said there is no major rain or snowfall forecast over the entire Union Territory till the end of February.
Weather is expected to remain generally dry from February 23 to 26. On February 27 and 28, the department has predicted partly to generally cloudy conditions with light rain or snowfall at isolated places.
For the first week of March, the Meteorological Department said partly to generally cloudy weather is likely from March 1 to 3, with chances of light rain or snowfall over higher reaches at isolated locations. From March 4 to 7, the weather is expected to remain partly cloudy.
Advising farmers to continue farm operations, the department said a further rise in minimum and maximum temperatures is likely at most places over the next five days.
