Warm February
The month of February has been unusually warm in Kashmir. It is for the first time that Kashmir has witnessed a historic climate event, recording its warmest February ever since meteorological observations began in the Valley.
From the plains to the higher reaches, every major weather station registered its highest average maximum temperature for the month — effectively rewriting winter records.
In Srinagar, the average maximum temperature for February climbed to 15.6°C, surpassing the previous record of 14.9°C set in 2016. South Kashmir’s gateway town Qazigund recorded 15.2°C, comfortably overtaking its earlier record of 14.1°C from 2016.
In north Kashmir, Kupwara touched 14.8°C, edging past its previous February high. Kokernag in south Kashmir logged 13.5°C, breaking its 2016 benchmark, while the tourist resort of Pahalgam recorded 12.1°C, exceeding its earlier record of 11.6°C.
Even Gulmarg, typically among the coldest destinations in winter, posted an average maximum of 7.0°C, smashing its long-standing February record of 5.9°C set in 2006.
Importantly, these are not isolated daily spikes. The figures represent sustained average maximum temperatures for the entire month of February, underscoring the consistency and magnitude of the anomaly.
Traditionally, February is considered the tail end of Kashmir’s harsh winter, often marked by snow-covered landscapes, sub-zero mornings and limited agricultural activity. This year, however, clear skies and bright sunshine dominated, with snowfall remaining scarce in many plains areas and cold spells shorter than usual.
Meteorologists attribute the warmth to prolonged dry conditions and weak western disturbances — weather systems that typically bring rain and snow to the region during winter. The lack of sustained snowfall allowed daytime heating to intensify, pushing temperatures well above seasonal norms.
While people welcomed the mild afternoons, experts caution that such deviations may have broader implications. Reduced snowfall affects water reserves for summer irrigation, and unseasonal warmth can disturb crop cycles, particularly horticulture and early flowering varieties.
Notably, Kashmir is famous for its water bodies and cool flowing streams especially in the rural areas. However, a warm February and less snowfall will mean that very little of water will be available to maintain a steady flow in these streams which will kill the attraction attached to the region.
This phenomenon will also mean least tourist attractions as well and this is what the region cannot afford. The February month this year now enters the Valley’s climate record books as a watershed moment — a winter month without winter, and perhaps a sign of shifting patterns that Kashmir may increasingly have to confront in the years ahead.
