The weather conditions have undergone significant changes in the past week, and it is expected to remain dry until the upcoming weekend, leading to a considerable rise in temperature in Jammu and Kashmir.
In the plains of the Kashmir valley, temperatures are expected to exceed 34°C, while in the Jammu plains, daytime temperatures could reach up to 43°C.
The southwest monsoon is predicted to arrive around Sunday, and from Sunday evening to Wednesday, there is a high probability of rain showers in most areas of Jammu and Kashmir. The Jammu region is expected to receive the highest amount of rainfall during this period.
Srinagar and other places in the Kashmir Valley recently recorded the hottest day of the season, with the mercury touching 33.3°C in the summer capital of J&K on Tuesday.
The maximum temperature in Srinagar was 4.1°C above the normal for this season, surpassing the previous highest of 31.8°C recorded on June 18, according to a meteorological department official.
Other places, including Pahalgam (27.8°C), Qazigund (32.6°C), Kokernag (31.4°C), Kupwara (32.1°C), and Gulmarg (23.4°C), also experienced the hottest day of the season.
Additionally, the minimum (nighttime) temperatures have increased in most places and settled above normal across J&K.
According to the meteorological department official, Srinagar recorded a low of 18.2°C, which was 2.4°C above the normal for the summer capital. Qazigund recorded a low of 16.2°C, Pahalgam registered a low of 9.1°C, and Kupwara town settled at 14.1°C.
In Jammu, the low temperature was 26.1°C, and Banihal recorded a low of 17.3°C. Ladakh’s Leh and Kargil recorded lows of 8.0°C and 11.9°C, respectively.
As for the forecast, the meteorological department official mentioned that mainly dry weather is expected from June 20-23, but a brief spell of showers or thunderstorms in one or two places cannot be ruled out in the late afternoon or evening.
From June 24th-28th, generally cloudy weather with intermittent light to moderate thunderstorms is expected in scattered to fairly widespread places.
The official added that the maximum temperature over many parts of the Kashmir Division is likely to range between 30-32°C, and 38-40°C over the plains of Jammu. Hot and dry weather is expected to continue until June 23.