Srinagar Sizzles At 35.2°C, Hottest June Day In 20 Years; IMD Predicts Rainfall From This Date

Kashmir is currently in the grip of an intense heatwave, with several areas, including the capital city of Srinagar, experiencing their hottest June day in 20 years. This unusual spell of scorching temperatures has prompted concerns across the Valley, according to officials.

According to data released by the India Meteorological Department (IMD), Srinagar registered a maximum temperature of 35.2 degrees Celsius on Thursday. This figure is a significant seven notches above the seasonal average and marks the highest June temperature recorded in the city in the past two decades. Previously, the hottest June day in Srinagar occurred on "June 25, 2005, when the mercury soared to 36.5 degrees Celsius."

The heatwave's impact has been felt keenly across other parts of Kashmir as well. Qazigund, often referred to as the gateway to the Valley in Kulgam district, experienced its hottest day in 37 years. IMD data shows that the mercury there climbed to 34.7 degrees Celsius. The previous record for Qazigund in June was "35.7 degrees Celsius on June 26, 1988."

Further south, Kokernag in Anantnag district recorded its second-hottest June day. The temperature reached 33.8 degrees Celsius, coming close to its record of "34.9 degrees Celsius on June 25, 2005," as per IMD data.

While most of the Valley baked under the sun, a few locations offered relative respite. The popular tourist resort of Gulmarg in Baramulla district emerged as the coolest spot in Kashmir on Thursday, with a maximum temperature of 25.9 degrees Celsius. This was still 3.5 notches above the season's average.

Pahalgam, serving as a significant base camp for the annual Amarnath Yatra, was the only other place to remain below the 30-degree Celsius mark, recording a maximum temperature of 29.6 degrees Celsius. However, even this was "5.5 degrees higher than the season's average," the IMD data indicated.

IMD's Forecasts Rains In Jammu-Kashmir From June 22

The IMD has forecast light to moderate rain accompanied by thunderstorms, lightning, and gusty winds reaching speeds of 40-50 kmph across Northwest India between 19 and 24 June. Several states are expected to receive significant rainfall in the coming days.

As per the bulletin, isolated heavy rainfall is predicted over parts of Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, and East Rajasthan from 19 to 25 June. Jammu-Kashmir-Ladakh-Gilgit-Baltistan-Muzaffarabad is likely to witness showers on 22 and 25 June. Rain is also expected in Himachal Pradesh and Punjab during 21 to 25 June, and across Haryana and Chandigarh from 20 to 25 June.

Very heavy rainfall warnings have been issued for West Uttar Pradesh on 19 June, East Uttar Pradesh on 20 and 21 June, East Rajasthan on 19 and 23 June, and Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh on 22 and 25 June.

According to the IMD’s update for the 24-hour period ending at 0830 IST on 19 June, rainfall was observed in multiple regions. Widespread showers were recorded in Arunachal Pradesh, Assam and Meghalaya, Nagaland, Manipur, Mizoram and Tripura, Sub-Himalayan West Bengal and Sikkim, Gangetic West Bengal, Odisha, Gujarat Region, Konkan and Goa, Madhya Maharashtra, Coastal Karnataka, Kerala and Mahe, and Lakshadweep.

Several other areas, including the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Bihar, Uttarakhand, East Rajasthan, West Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh saw rain at many locations. A few pockets of East and West Uttar Pradesh, Saurashtra and Kutch, Vidarbha, and Karnataka also received rainfall, while isolated areas of Haryana-Chandigarh-Delhi, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu-Kashmir-Ladakh-Gilgit-Baltistan-Muzaffarabad, and Tamil Nadu saw light precipitation. The remaining regions of the country remained dry.

Temperature Anomalies and Monsoon Progress

The IMD also recorded significant departures from normal minimum temperatures on 19 June. Several locations in East Madhya Pradesh reported minimum temperatures over 5.1°C above normal, with similar trends seen in parts of Assam, Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Himachal Pradesh, West Rajasthan, and Saurashtra & Kutch.

The lowest minimum temperature across the plains was recorded at 19.2°C in Narsinghpur (Madhya Pradesh) and Matheran (Maharashtra).

The IMD added that conditions remain favourable for the southwest monsoon to advance into the remaining parts of the North Arabian Sea, more areas of Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, and Jammu-Kashmir-Ladakh-Gilgit-Baltistan-Muzaffarabad over the next two to three days. Additionally, Punjab and Haryana are likely to see monsoon advancement shortly thereafter.

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