Owais Gul
Srinagar, Feb 5: The five-day intermittent wet spell in Jammu & Kashmir ended on Monday while Srinagar and other areas of the valley witnessed occasional sunshine as well.
However, the prolonged dry spell that continued for nearly two months also surpassed the previous records as the Kashmir Valley including the areas in Jammu experienced high temperature, marking the warmest January in the history.
The five-day intermittent wet spell has ended the prolonged dry spell in Kashmir while several fts of snowfall was recovered at some places including Sinthan Top, a famous ski-resort Gulmarg, Sonamarg and others from January 31-February 04, 2024.
The weather conditions improved today with Srinagar and other adjacent areas witnessing the occasional sunshine as well.
As per the details shared by the Director Meteorological department, Dr Mukhtar Ahmad, the weather conditions are expected to remain generally dry from tomorrow till February 14 as there is no forecast of any wet spell during the period.
Meanwhile, the Director MeT said in view of significant snow accumulation during the last few days, follow administration and traffic Police advisory.
Moreover, an Independent Weather Forecaster, Faizan Arif Keng issued a detailed statement, saying that in January 2024, Kashmir region and certain areas of Jammu region experienced unusually high temperatures, marking it as the warmest January on record.
“The absence of snowfall and inactive Western Disturbances contributed to extraordinary high temperatures, reaching more than 8°C above normal levels on some days during the month,” Keng said.
At 11.7 degree Celsius, Srinagar experienced its warmest-ever mean maximum temperature in January, tying with the years 2001 and 1902 while Gulmarg, Pahalgam, Qazigund, Kokernag, and Kupwara observed their highest-ever temperatures.
Gulmarg recorded a mean maximum temperature of 5.4 degree Celsius, Pahalgam 10.3 degree Celsius, Qazigund 12.1 degree Celsius, Kokernag 10.9 degree Celsius and Kupwara 11.6 degree Celsius.
In Jammu region, Banihal recorded an unprecedented all-time highest mean maximum temperature of 16.4 degree Celsius, he said.
Bhaderwah and Batote experienced their second-highest mean maximum temperatures on record. Bhaderwah recorded 14.7°C, near to its highest recorded temperature of 15.4°C. Meanwhile, Batote recorded 14.8°C, matching the temperature recorded in 2010, with the all-time highest mean maximum temperature being 18.4°C in 1995, he added.
