Weather to remain dry till April 23: MeT

Srinagar, Apr 20: Day temperatures recorded an increase across Jammu and Kashmir on Monday, with the Meteorological Department predicting largely dry weather conditions till April 23, followed by intermittent rain spells later in the week.
According to the MeT department’s evening data, most places in the Valley and Jammu division recorded temperatures above normal. Srinagar registered a maximum temperature of 23.5 degrees Celsius, nearly 2.7 degrees above normal, while the minimum settled at 9.4 degrees Celsius.
Qazigund recorded a high of 24 degrees Celsius, 3.8 degrees above normal, and Pahalgam reported 20.4 degrees Celsius. Kupwara and Kokernag also saw above-normal day temperatures at 21.6 degrees Celsius and 22.8 degrees Celsius, respectively.
Gulmarg, a popular tourist destination, recorded a maximum temperature of 13.2 degrees Celsius, which was around 2.6 degrees above the seasonal average.
In the Jammu division, Jammu city recorded a maximum temperature of 34.7 degrees Celsius, 1.6 degrees above normal, while Katra registered 33 degrees Celsius, nearly 4.8 degrees above the average. Batote and Bhaderwah also recorded temperatures above normal.
The MeT department said there was no significant rainfall recorded across most stations during the day, although some places received light precipitation over the past 24 hours. Pahalgam recorded the highest rainfall of 9.2 mm during this period.
An official said the weather is expected to remain “generally dry” from April 20 to 23, with a possibility of brief spells of light rain at isolated places.
From April 24 to 25, the weather is likely to turn partly to generally cloudy, with one or two spells of light rain or thundershowers at scattered to many places. Gusty winds are also expected at a few locations, particularly during the late afternoon and evening hours.
On April 26, brief spells of light rain or thundershowers are likely at a few places, while April 27 and 28 are expected to remain largely dry.
Another spell of light rain and thundershowers, accompanied by gusty winds, is forecast at isolated places on April 29 and 30, mainly during the late afternoon.
The MeT department has advised farmers to continue agricultural operations till April 23 in view of the largely dry weather conditions.
It also said that day temperatures are expected to rise by 2 to 4 degrees Celsius at many places across the Union Territory over the next few days. (KNO)