Owais Gul
Srinagar, Jun 19: Amid the forecast of an intense heatwave until Saturday, the Kashmir region has witnessed an unexpected rise in the maximum temperature, surpassing decades-old records at three stations.
According to details, Srinagar, the summer capital of Jammu and Kashmir, recorded the highest June temperature in the last two decades. The station recorded a maximum temperature of 35.2 degrees Celsius, which was the season’s hottest so far.
Independent Weather Forecaster Faizan Arif Keng stated that with 35.2 degrees Celsius, Srinagar has surpassed the previous records of the last two decades. “It was the hottest June day in the last 20 years since June 25, 2005,” Faizan said. He added that the all-time highest temperature in June was recorded on June 29, 1978.
Faizan said that Qazigund recorded a temperature of 34.7 degrees Celsius, the highest June temperature in 37 years. “This is the third all-time June temperature for Qazigund. The second highest is 35.3 degrees, recorded on June 27, 1988, and the all-time highest is 35.7 degrees, recorded on June 26, 1988,” he added.
Kokernag has also surpassed previous figures, recording the all-time second-highest June temperature after a gap of 27 years, at 33.8 degrees Celsius. A similar day temperature was recorded on June 29, 1999. “The all-time highest temperature in Kokernag stands at 34.9°C, recorded on June 25, 2005,” he said.
Moreover, another independent weather forecaster, Adil Maqbool, predicted a further rise in mercury, saying the day temperature could touch 35.5 degrees Celsius tomorrow or even 36 degrees in Srinagar and other lower areas of Kashmir. He added that mostly dry and hot weather will continue to dominate until June 21.
Furthermore, Pahalgam recorded a day temperature of 29.6 degrees Celsius, while Kupwara and Gulmarg recorded 33.1 degrees Celsius and 25.9 degrees Celsius, respectively. However, some parts of Jammu division continued to record below-normal temperatures, including Jammu city and Katra, where the mercury settled at 36.5 degrees Celsius and 33.1 degrees Celsius, respectively.
In Banihal, Bhaderwah, and Batote, maximum temperatures of 30.6 degrees Celsius, 31.6 degrees Celsius, and 28.2 degrees Celsius, respectively, were recorded today.
According to the weather forecast, Kashmir is set to witness an intense heatwave for the next two days, followed by heavy rains at isolated places. Generally dry weather with the possibility of brief spells of rain and thundershowers with gusty winds at isolated places is expected until Friday.
Between June 21 and 22, Director of MeT, Dr Mukhtar Ahmad, said that generally cloudy weather with intermittent spells of rain and thundershowers is expected at many places. He added that on June 23 and 24, the weather is expected to remain dry, with a brief spell of light rain and thundershowers at isolated places. From June 25 to 27, generally cloudy weather with the possibility of intermittent light to moderate rain and thundershowers at many places is forecasted.
The MeT has also issued an advisory urging farmers to continue farm operations until June 20. According to the advisory, there is a possibility of moderate to heavy rain with intense showers at a few places, mainly in Jammu division, on June 21 and 22. “Flash floods are expected at a few places, along with landslides, mudslides, and shooting stones,” it added. (KNO)
