Heat wave continues in Jammu, light rains lash Kashmir
Jammu: Heat wave conditions continued to prevail over the Jammu region on Wednesday, while light rains in Kashmir brought down the day temperature to normal after almost a month, an IMD official said.
Jammu recorded the maximum temperature at 38.5 degrees Celsius and minimum at 24.8 degrees Celsius. While the day temperature is 6.4 degrees above season’s average, the night temperature is also 5.6 notches above normal, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) official said.
Katra, the base camp for the pilgrims visiting Mata Vaishno Devi shrine, recorded a high of 34.6 degrees Celsius and a low of 22.8 degrees Celsius.
The weather, on the other hand, was pleasant in Kashmir region where Srinagar recorded a high of near normal 20.6 degrees Celsius and a low of 11.8 degrees Celsius, which was 4.2 notches above normal, the official said.
The drop in the mercury in the valley was the result of rainfall under the influence of western disturbance which is presently active over Jammu and Kashmir, the official said, adding Srinagar recorded 5.3mm of rainfall on Wednesday.
According to IMD, most parts of Kashmir valley and some places in the high altitude areas of Jammu region recorded light to moderate rains since Tuesday night.
The weather is expected to remain cloudy with light rain likely at many places in Kashmir and some places in Jammu on April 14, the official said, adding that the next spell of light to moderate rain is likely on April 20 and 21.
As per IMD, light snowfall in the upper reaches of north Kashmir, including Razdan top on Bandipora-Gurez road, was reported.
“As expected, light to moderate rain occurred at many places of J&K since late night and early morning. Today and tomorrow (April 13 &14), the weather is likely to remain generally cloudy with light rain at many places of Kashmir and at some places of Jammu although there’s no forecast of any major rainfall,” a meteorological department official said. “Next spell of light to moderate rain (is) likely during 20-21st April.”
He said that Srinagar received 5.3 mm of rain fall till 0830 hours this morning and recorded a low of 11.8°C against 11.2°C on the previous night. The temperature, he said, was 4.2°C above normal during this time of the year for the summer capital.
Qazigund received 9.2 mm of rain during the time and recorded a low of 10.8°C against 8.6°C on the previous night. The temperature was above normal by 4.3°C for the gateway town of Kashmir, he said.
Kokernag, also in south Kashmir, had 1.2 mm of rainfall and recorded a low of 10.3°C against 11.4°C on the previous night. It was 4.2°C more than normal during this time of the season for the place, the official said.
Pahalgam, the famous resort in south Kashmir, received 6.8 mm of rain during the time and recorded a low of 7.6°C against 6.9°C on the last night. The temperature was 4.7°C above normal for the place, he said.
Gulmarg had 7.8 mm of rainfall and recorded a low of 2.5°C against 7.5°C on the previous night, the official said. While 1.5°C is normal for the world famous skiing resort during this time of the season, the official said that the temperature was 1.0°C above normal for the place in north Kashmir’s Baramulla district.
Kupwara town in north Kashmir received 7.4 mm of rain and recorded a low of 9.7°C against 8.1°C on the previous night. The temperature was normal by 3.4°C, the official told Global News Service.
Rains eluded Jammu district and it recorded a low of 24.8°C against 26.6°C on the previous night, the official said. The temperature was 5.2°C above normal for J&K’s winter capital, he said.
Banihal had 2.4 mm of rain and recorded a low of 13.4°C, Batote recorded a minimum of 16.6°C with no rain while Bhaderwah had 0.8 mm of rain and recorded a low of 12.2°C, the official said.
J&K received largely 80% deficient rain due to the absence of any strong western disturbance or the winds blowing from the Mediterranean bringing moisture in March this year. The capital cities of Jammu and Srinagar were largely dry.
MeT department said last month, Jammu city received only 2.1mm rains against normal of 68 mm and Srinagar city received 21.3mm of rainfall as against normal of 117.6mm. (with inputs from PTI)
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