The Kashmir Valley continues to reel under a heatwave, with Srinagar recording a season-high for the second straight day at 35.6° C on Wednesday. It made the city even hotter than Kolkata, which registered a maximum temperature of 31° C.
The 35.6° C was not only six degrees above normal, but the highest for July in 25 years. “Srinagar has recorded a maximum temperature of 35.6° C… the highest July temperature recorded in Srinagar since 1999, when the maximum temperature reached 37.° C on July 9. The all-time highest maximum temperature is 38.3° C recorded on July 10, 1946,” independent weather forecaster Faizan Arif said.
Traditionally, July and August are considered the hottest months of summer.
Ski resort of Gulmarg also recorded above normal day temperature of 25.7° C, which is 5.2 degrees above normal. Pahalgam also recorded a high temperature of 30.2° C, 5.5 degrees above normal.
Jammu also remained hot at 36.6° C, while Leh in Ladakh recorded a maximum temperature of 30.7° C.
The MeT office has predicted rain from Thursday night, which could bring about a drop in the temperature.
“There is a possibility of rain/thundershower at scattered places in the Jammu division towards late night /early morning and spell of rain/thundershower at few places in the Kashmir division,” a MeT statement read.
