Srinagar: With heat wave conditions persisting, Qazigund, the gateway town of the Valley recorded the highest-ever day temperature during the month of May while Pahalgam and Kokernag endured the second warmest day in the last 23 and 22 years respectively.
Quoting a meteorological department official here, GNS reported that the maximum temperature in Qazigund scaled to 34°C, breaking the previous highest record of 43 years when the temperature had touched 33.6°C on 31 May 1981.
Pahalgam endured the second highest temperature ever during May as the mercury rose to 28.6°C and it was a little over a degree below the all-time high recorded for the famous resort, witnessed on 23 May 2000 when the maximum of 30.8°C was recorded.
Kokernag also recorded the second highest maximum temperature at 31.6°C and it was the highest in the last 22 years as previously the mercury had touched 32.6°C on 15 May 2001, he said.
At 34.6°C, Bhaderwah recorded its highest day temperature in 23 years, just a notch below 34.7°C on 26 May 2024, and 37.6°C on 30 May, 2000, he said.
He said Jammu recorded maximum temperature 42.8°C, Katra 39°C, Srinagar 32.2°C, Kupwara 30.9°C and Gulmarg 22.2°C.
Regarding the forecast, the MeT office said generally dry weather will persist till May 29 even as the possibility of thundershower activity at isolated places can’t be ruled out.
From May 30-31, he said, partly to generally cloudy weather is expected with light rain/thunders at isolated places.
From June 1-2, weather is likely to be partly to generally cloudy with light rain/thunder at isolated places. From June 3-5, generally dry weather is expected.
He said no respite in heat waves or hot and dry weather conditions is expected over the plains of Jammu division during the next seven days.
At the same time, he said, slight relief from heat wave conditions is expected during May 30-31 and June 1-2 in most parts of the Kashmir division as well as a few hilly areas of the Jammu division.
“Another spell of heat wave is expected from June 3 onwards,” he said and urged people to avoid exposure to heat and keep the body hydrated.
Meanwhile, night temperature also continued to stay above normal with Srinagar recording a low of 15.6°C against 15.1°C on the previous night. It was 3.6°C above normal for the summer capital for this time of the year.
Qazigund recorded a minimum of 12.4°C against 12.6°C on the previous night and it was 1.7°C above normal for the gateway town of Kashmir, he said.
Pahalgam recorded a low of 7.7°C against 8.3°C on the previous night and it was 1.6°C above normal for the famous resort in south Kashmir.
Kokernag, also in south Kashmir, recorded a minimum of 13.6°C against 13.2°C and it was 3.0°C above normal, the official said.
Kupwara town recorded a minimum of 12.0°C against 11.5°C on the previous night and it was above normal by 1.4°C for the place, the official said.
Gulmarg recorded a minimum of 11.2°C against 11.0°C on the previous night and it was above normal by 4.1°C for the world-famous skiing resort in north Kashmir’s Baramulla district.
Jammu, he said, recorded a low of 24.7°C against 24.5°C on the previous night and it was below normal by 0.2°C for the winter capital of J&K. Banihal recorded a low of 15.2°C, Batote 19.0°C and Bhaderwah 15.6°C, he said.
