Srinagar: Jammu and Kashmir is likely to witness brief spells of rain and thundershowers at scattered to many places during the early morning and afternoon hours from September 15 to 17, the Meteorological Department said on Monday, while noting that the Union Territory has recorded near-normal seasonal precipitation despite contrasting rainfall trends in July and August.
The MeT Department said J&K is expected to remain generally dry from September 18 to 25, with only the possibility of brief spells of rain at isolated places. It also issued an advisory for thunderstorms, lightning and gusty winds at a few places from September 14 to 17.
Director Meteorological Department Srinagar, Dr Mukhtar Ahmad, told Kashmir News Observer (KNO) that despite month-to-month variations, the overall precipitation scenario in Jammu and Kashmir remains almost near normal.
“July was good in terms of rainfall. In J&K, there was 35 per cent excess rainfall,” Ahmad said.
He said August, however, recorded around a 25 per cent rainfall deficit, with some weather activity but no consistent or widespread rainfall.
“There were some spells in August, but these were not consistent or widespread. No such activity happened,” he added.
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According to the MeT Director, the overall seasonal rainfall has remained close to normal despite these fluctuations, reflecting the changing weather patterns being observed across the Union Territory in recent years.
Ahmad said precipitation trends are likely to continue fluctuating depending on evolving atmospheric conditions.
Meanwhile, weather data issued by the Meteorological Centre Srinagar showed that Srinagar recorded a maximum temperature of 30.4 degrees Celsius on Monday, which was 2.6 degrees above normal, while the minimum temperature settled at 13.5 degrees Celsius, remaining normal for this time of the year.
Jammu city recorded a maximum temperature of 33.5 degrees Celsius, 0.8 degrees above normal, while the minimum temperature stood at 23.3 degrees Celsius, one degree below normal.
Among other stations, Qazigund recorded a maximum of 26.5 degrees Celsius and a minimum of 11.6 degrees Celsius, while Pahalgam registered 23.9 degrees Celsius and 8.9 degrees Celsius respectively.
Kupwara recorded a maximum temperature of 30.9 degrees Celsius and a minimum of 11.9 degrees Celsius, while Kokernag recorded 28.6 degrees Celsius and 11.8 degrees Celsius.
Gulmarg remained among the coolest places in the Valley with a maximum temperature of 21.8 degrees Celsius and a minimum of 8.7 degrees Celsius.
In Jammu division, Katra recorded a maximum temperature of 31.7 degrees Celsius and a minimum of 20.9 degrees Celsius, while Banihal registered 29.5 degrees Celsius and 13.6 degrees Celsius respectively.
The weather department advised farmers to continue harvesting apple and paddy crops and carry out other agricultural activities while taking precautions in view of the possibility of thunderstorms, lightning and gusty winds over the next few days.
The MeT Department added that the forecast may change depending on evolving weather conditions.
