Heavy rains keep temperatures below normal across J&K

Srinagar, Jul 22: Widespread moderate to heavy rainfall lashed Jammu and Kashmir on Wednesday, with Kathua recording the highest rainfall of 153.4 mm in the past 24 hours, while Katra witnessed its coldest July day on record as persistent cloud cover kept daytime temperatures significantly below normal.
According to weather data, the heaviest rainfall in the Jammu region during the 24-hour period ending at 8:30 am was recorded in Kathua (153.4 mm), followed by Samba (133 mm), Udhampur (132.6 mm), Jammu Airport (67.7 mm), Jammu city (62.1 mm), Katra (58.5 mm), Poonch (51 mm), Ramban (49 mm), Batote (46.1 mm), Reasi (44.5 mm) and Rajouri (40.8 mm).
In the Kashmir valley, Gulmarg received the highest rainfall at 55 mm, followed by Baramulla (37.5 mm), Tangmarg (28.2 mm), Pahalgam (23.8 mm), Lolab (22.4 mm), Nowgam Handwara (21.2 mm), Awantipora (21 mm), Bumhama Kupwara (19.8 mm), Qazigund (19.6 mm) and Kokernag (17 mm), among other stations.
The rain continued through the day, with fresh precipitation recorded between 8:30 am and 5:30 pm. Bhawan (Shri Mata Vaishno Devi) received the highest rainfall at 109 mm, followed by Reasi (94.5 mm), Katra (91.4 mm), Bakore (50.5 mm), Jammu (47 mm), Ramban (43.5 mm), Banihal (37.2 mm), Rajouri (36 mm), Gulmarg (35 mm), Qazigund (33.2 mm), Kokernag (32.2 mm) and Baramulla (30 mm).
The prolonged rainfall led to a sharp drop in maximum temperatures across the Union Territory.
Srinagar recorded a maximum temperature of 20 degrees Celsius, 9.9 degrees below normal, while Jammu settled at 24.8 degrees Celsius, 8.7 degrees below normal.
Kupwara recorded 20.2 degrees Celsius, Gulmarg 14.5 degrees Celsius, Pahalgam 17.6 degrees Celsius, Kokernag 19.4 degrees Celsius and Baramulla 19.8 degrees Celsius.
In the Jammu division, Banihal recorded 19 degrees Celsius, Batote 19.8 degrees Celsius, Bhaderwah 20.2 degrees Celsius, Rajouri 19.4 degrees Celsius, Poonch 23 degrees Celsius and Kathua 26.9 degrees Celsius.
Katra recorded a maximum temperature of just 22.6 degrees Celsius, 8.1 degrees below normal, making it the coldest July day on record for the pilgrim town.
Weather observers said the day’s minimum temperature in Katra was 21 degrees Celsius, only 1.6 degrees lower than the maximum, reflecting an unusually narrow diurnal temperature range caused by persistent cloud cover and continuous rainfall. (KNO)