Kupwara, Srinagar sizzle at 34.6 degrees Celsius

Srinagar, July 2: Despite predictions of erratic weather conditions for almost a week from Wednesday, an unexpected heatwave has gripped Kupwara and Srinagar, with both places recording their hottest day of the season so far at 34.6 degrees Celsius.

Residents of both Kupwara and Srinagar, who were bracing for rain and cooler temperatures, found themselves sweltering under an unrelenting sun. The sudden spike in temperature has caught many off guard, leading to increased demand for cooling solutions.

Pertinently, the start of the new month has brought a heat wave to three stations in Kashmir, including Srinagar, the summer capital of Jammu and Kashmir, where yesterday marked the hottest day of the season with temperatures soaring to 34.3 degrees Celsius.

The Meteorological Centre in Srinagar has predicted significant weather events from July 2 to July 8. Residents have been urged to prepare for hot and humid conditions interspersed with spells of rain and thunderstorms, which may lead to adverse impacts in certain areas.

MET Forecast

2nd-3rd July: J&K will experience hot and humid weather. There is a possibility of rain and thunderstorms at scattered locations in the Jammu Division, particularly late at night and early in the morning. In the Kashmir Division, similar weather events are expected at a few places.

4th July: Intermittent light to moderate rain and thunderstorms are predicted at many places across Jammu Division, with isolated instances of heavy rainfall.

5th-6th July: Moderate rainfall is likely to occur intermittently at most locations in Jammu and Kashmir, with heavy showers expected at a few places.

7th-8th July: The weather will revert to hot and humid conditions, with a chance of rain and thunderstorms at scattered locations in the Jammu Division during late night and early morning hours, and at a few places in the Kashmir Division.

Advisory:

The MeT has issued a warning for potential thunderstorms, lightning, flash floods, landslides, mudslides, and shooting stones, particularly from July 4 to July 6. "Vulnerable areas should take extra precautions to mitigate risks associated with these events. Additionally, low-lying areas may experience temporary water logging due to heavy rainfall."

On Monday, pertinently, Srinagar and Qazigund were hotter than Kolkata where the mercury settled at 31 degree Celsius.

Qazigund recorded a maximum temperature of 32.4 degree Celsius while Kokernag recorded a maximum temperature of 31.9 degree Celsius.