Mercury plummets, falls far below normal in JK

Srinagar, Jun 15: Less than a week after maximum temperatures rose to record high this season, mercury took a nosedive across Jammu and Kashmir amid fresh rains on Tuesday.
A meteorological department official said that Srinagar recorded maximum of 23.6°C against 28.4°C normal during this time of the year. The temperature was over 11°C below than the last Thursday when people sweltered in 34.7°C temperature in the summer capital of J&K.
Qazigund recorded maximum of 24.0°C against normal of 27°C, Pahalgam witnessed 20.3°C against normal of 24.1°C while Kokernag recorded maximum of 23.1°C, 3°C less than normal for this time of the year.
The border town Kupwara recorded maximum temperature of 24.8°C against normal of 27.9°C, he said.
World famous skiing and tourist resort Gulmarg in north Kashmir was the coldest place in Valley, recording maximum of 14.0°C against normal of 19.0°C, the official added.
Jammu, the winter capital of J&K recorded maximum of 35.4°C against normal of 38.4°C, he added.
Meanwhile weatherman has forecast “light to moderate thunderstorm with rain” for next few days at scattered places in Jammu and Kashmir.
“Brief spell of light to moderate thunderstorm with rain will occur at scattered places of Kashmir like Gulmarg, Kupwara, Sopore, Baramulla, Srinagar and scattered places of Jammu and South Kashmir today,” Director Meteorological Department Sonam Lotus said. “Same weather is most likely to continue for next few days,” he said, adding, “There’s no forecast for any major rainfall. We expect slight relief from scorching heat wave in both Jammu and Kashmir region.”
He also advised farmers to avoid chemical spraying of orchards for next 2-3 days.
Regarding Ladakh, he said, weather is likely to remain partly to generally cloudy. “There is no forecast for any significant weather in coming days.” (GNS)