february-sees-spike-kashmir-temperatures-warmest-in-decade

In a delight for hordes of tourists visiting every month, Kashmir is experiencing an unusually warm winter, with day temperatures settling 9-11 degrees above normal in several areas, making February the warmest in about a decade so far.

The day temperature has been hovering several degrees above the seasonal average for the last few days as bright sunshine marks winter days, officials said. The experience is unusual for the locals, people of elderly generations who have hitherto been seeing harshness of winter not going till March end.

On Thursday, the maximum day temperature remained 9-11 degrees above normal in many parts of Kashmir. Srinagar city recorded the maximum of 20.1 degrees Celsius on Thursday, 9.7 degrees above the seasonal normal. They said it was the highest maximum temperature in February since 2016. On February 24, 2016, the city had recorded a high of 20.6 degrees Celsius. Gulmarg saw the day temperature rise to 11.4 degrees Celsius, 9.9 degrees above normal.

It was the highest ever day temperature in north Kashmir’s Baramulla district and equalled the all-time February record set on February 11, 1993.Other weather stations across the Kashmir valley also recorded above-normal day temperature. Independent weather forecaster, Faizan Arif, said the heat spell in the Valley was just getting started.

“As predicted earlier, a few temperature records have already been broken. But this does not mark the end of the heat spell. In fact, it has only just begun. Several more records are likely to be challenged in the coming days,” Arif said. He said February this year is on track to turn out as one of the warmest on record for Jammu and Kashmir.

The Meteorological Department said February would most likely remain dry, as there was no forecast of any major rain/snow spell till the month end. The MeT officials said Kashmir is currently 56 per cent rainfall deficit, while Jammu stands at 35 per cent.

 

The weather is likely to remain largely dry till February end with a possibility of light rain/snow at isolated places on 27-28. The MeT officials said there would be a further rise in the minimum as well as the maximum temperature at most places in Kashmir during the next seven days.