During an unusually warm winter, Srinagar and Gulmarg recorded their highest-ever daytime temperatures for February on Saturday. The Kashmir Valley is seeing temperatures much higher than normal for this time of year.
A Meteorological Department official said that daytime temperatures in many parts of Kashmir have been 9 to 11 degrees Celsius above average. Bright sunshine over the past few days has caused temperatures to rise well above usual winter levels.
Srinagar recorded a maximum temperature of 21.0°C, which is 10 degrees above normal. The previous February record was 20.6°C, set on 24 February 2016.
Over the weekend, many areas continued to see temperatures 9 to 11 degrees above average. Gulmarg, a popular ski resort, recorded 11.5°C, which is 9.5 degrees above normal. This was the highest February daytime temperature ever recorded in north Kashmir’s Baramulla district, beating the previous record set on 11 February 1993.
Other towns across the Valley also reported higher-than-normal temperatures. Qazigund recorded 20.0°C, while Kokernag saw 18.3°C.
Popular tourist spot Pahalgam recorded 17.2°C, and Kupwara reached 20.0°C. Meanwhile, Jammu recorded a maximum temperature of 25.2°C.
The Meteorological Department said the weather is expected to stay mostly dry from 21 to 25 February. On 26 February, the sky is likely to be partly to mostly cloudy. Between 27 and 28 February, there may be light rain or snow in a few places.
From 1 to 3 March, generally cloudy weather is expected, with light rain or snow in higher areas in some places. From 4 to 7 March, the weather is likely to be partly cloudy.
The department has advised farmers to continue their farm work, as both day and night temperatures are expected to rise further over the next six days.