Rainfall keeps temperatures below normal across J&K

Srinagar, Jul 29: Day temperatures remained several degrees below normal across Jammu and Kashmir on Wednesday following widespread rainfall, while the Meteorological Department (MeT) forecast continued wet weather with the possibility of heavy to torrential showers, flash floods and landslides in vulnerable areas over the next several days.
According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), Srinagar recorded a maximum temperature of 25.7 degrees Celsius, 4.2 degrees below normal, while the minimum settled at 20.8 degrees Celsius, which was 2 degrees above normal. The city recorded only a trace of rainfall during the day, with relative humidity ranging between 84 per cent in the morning and 71 per cent in the evening.
Qazigund recorded a maximum of 24.4 degrees Celsius, Pahalgam 20.6 degrees Celsius, Kupwara 26.3 degrees Celsius, Kukernag 23.5 degrees Celsius, Gulmarg 18 degrees Celsius, Jammu 31.3 degrees Celsius, Banihal 26.1 degrees Celsius, Batote 25.1 degrees Celsius, Katra 28.2 degrees Celsius, and Bhaderwah 25.6 degrees Celsius, with all stations recording below-normal daytime temperatures.
During the past 24 hours ending at 8:30 am, Samba received 87 mm of rainfall, followed by Katra 71.2 mm, Udhampur 65 mm and Jammu 52 mm, making them the wettest places in the Union Territory. Other stations also recorded rainfall, including Kukernag (21 mm), Bhaderwah (9.2 mm), Gulmarg (7.8 mm), Batote (3.4 mm) and Qazigund (3.2 mm).
The MeT department said July 30 and 31 are likely to witness few spells of light to moderate rain or thundershowers at most places, with the possibility of brief intense heavy showers or torrential rain at a few places in the Jammu division, mainly during the early morning, morning and late afternoon or evening hours. A few places in the Kashmir division may also experience brief intense showers during this period.
For August 1 and 2, the department has forecast one or two spells of light to moderate rain or thundershowers at many places, accompanied by brief intense showers.
Between August 3 and 5, wet conditions are expected to persist, with light to moderate rain at many places and the possibility of heavy rain or brief intense to torrential showers over a few districts of the Jammu division. Some areas of the Kashmir division may also receive brief intense showers.
The weather office has warned of the possibility of heavy rainfall in a few districts of the Jammu division over the next five days. It said torrential rain or brief intense heavy showers could trigger flash floods, landslides and mudslides at vulnerable locations between July 29 and August 2.
The MeT advised the general public, tourists, travellers and transporters to remain alert and strictly follow advisories issued by the local administration. (KNO)