Spring in February: Unusual Heat Sweeps J&K as Temperatures Soar 10°C Above Normal
Srinagar nears all-time record at 20.1°C, Qazigund crosses 20°C; experts warn weak snowfall, dry winter may hit water supply & orchards
Srinagar: Jammu and Kashmir is witnessing an extraordinary spell of winter warmth, with temperatures across the Union Territory surging far above seasonal averages and several weather stations nearing long-standing February records, raising fresh concern among scientists and farmers about a rapidly shifting climate pattern in the Himalayas.
Independent weather forecaster Faizan Arif said the present conditions signal a prolonged warm phase rather than a brief fluctuation. “Some records have already been challenged, but this is not the peak yet. The heat spell has just begun and more stations may approach or even break historic February records in the coming days if dry weather continues,” he said.
The Kashmir Valley recorded unusually high daytime temperatures on Wednesday. Srinagar reached 20.1°C, about 9.7°C above normal and just short of its all-time February record of 20.6°C set in 2016. Qazigund climbed to 20.4°C, showing a sharp 10.9°C departure from normal. Pahalgam registered 16.0°C (+9.0°C), Kupwara 19.4°C (+9.9°C), Kokernag 17.8°C (+9.6°C) and Gulmarg 11.4°C — nearly 10°C above normal — equalling its historic February record set in 1993.
The warm conditions extended to the Jammu division as well. Jammu city recorded 27.0°C, 5.1°C above normal, while Banihal registered 19.8°C (+7.1°C), Batote 19.5°C (+7.3°C), Bhaderwah 18.9°C (+5.6°C) and Katra 24.6°C (+5.1°C). Even Ladakh, typically locked in freezing conditions during February, reported relatively mild afternoons, with Leh at 7.6°C, Kargil 9.4°C and Nubra Valley 10.5°C.
Meteorologists attribute the unusual warmth to the absence of strong western disturbances — the Mediterranean weather systems responsible for winter rain and snowfall in the western Himalaya. With snowfall drastically reduced this season, snow cover at plains and mid-altitudes has almost disappeared, allowing the ground to absorb solar radiation quickly during daytime.
Kashmir University earth scientist Prof. Shakil Ahmad Jeelani said the consequences may be felt well beyond winter. “Snow functions as a natural reservoir in Kashmir. When snowfall declines, recharge of springs, streams and groundwater weakens. The effects become visible in summer through water shortages and reduced irrigation availability,” he explained.
Horticulture experts have already reported early bud formation and flowering in orchards across parts of south and central Kashmir. This premature blooming increases the risk of crop damage if a cold wave or frost returns in March — a common phenomenon in the Valley’s late winter.
Environmental observers also fear reduced river discharge in coming months because much of Kashmir’s water supply depends on gradual snowmelt from mountains. Less snow means faster melting and shorter water availability during peak agricultural season.
Scientists say such winters are becoming more frequent, with rising temperatures, declining snowfall and erratic precipitation increasingly altering the Valley’s traditional weather calendar. For residents, the change is already visible — frozen water bodies, snow-covered fields and long cold spells that once defined February are largely absent this year.
With no major snowfall forecast immediately, Jammu and Kashmir is experiencing afternoons resembling late March rather than peak winter, reinforcing expert warnings that the region may be entering a new climatic phase where winters grow shorter, warmer and more unpredictable.
