Sajid Raina
Srinagar, Feb 20: Several Kashmir parts recorded unusually high maximum temperatures on Friday, with Gulmarg and Qazigund breaking their all-time February records.
According to data from the India Meteorological Department (IMD), Gulmarg recorded a maximum temperature of 11.6 degrees Celsius, surpassing its previous February record of 11.4 C set on February 11, 1993. The same previous high of 11.4 degrees Celsius was also recorded on February 19 this year, officials said.
Qazigund registered 21.0 degrees Celsius, breaking its earlier all-time February record of 20.7 degrees Celsius set on February 28, 2020.
Kokernag recorded 18.4 degrees Celsius, equalling its highest-ever February maximum logged on February 29, 2016.
In Srinagar, the summer capital of Jammu and Kashmir, the maximum temperature settled at 20.2 degrees Celsius — 9.2 degrees above normal — making it the fifth warmest February day in the city’s recorded history.
The previous fifth-highest was 20.1 degrees Celsius, recorded on February 26, 2016, and matched on February 19 this year.
Pahalgam recorded 16.5 degrees Celsius, 9 degrees above normal, ranking as its fifth warmest February day. The earlier fifth-highest for the south Kashmir resort town was 16.3 degrees Celsius, recorded on February 26, 2016.
Kupwara in North Kashmir registered 19.8 degrees Celsius, 9.7 degrees above normal, placing it among the top ten warmest February days, officials said. The earlier ninth-highest was 19.5 degrees Celsius, recorded on February 20, 2021.
Other stations in the Valley also reported above-normal temperatures. Kokernag was 9.6 degrees above normal, while Qazigund was 10.9 degrees above the seasonal average.
In the Jammu region, Jammu city recorded a maximum of 26.2 degrees Celsius, 3.9 degrees above normal. Banihal, Batote, Katra and Bhaderwah also reported temperatures several degrees above the seasonal average.
The IMD data indicates a significant positive departure from normal temperatures across most stations in the Union Territory, with some areas witnessing deviations of up to 10 degrees Celsius above average.
