Jammu & Kashmir Witnesses The Hottest March In 76 Years

Intense heat waves have struck the Indian subcontinent and the mercury has dramatically risen creating a summer like situation in spring. In India this March has been one of the hottest and some states have witnessed record breaking temperatures.

Indian Meteorological Dept. declared March 11 as the beginning of the first heat wave. Moreover, two depressions in a matter of weeks almost triggered a cyclone. This phenomenon of double depressions in March happened for the first time in 130 years. Hot winds arriving from north west of India are bringing in temperature rise.

The weather in Jammu & Kashmir has been dry and clear due to absence of any native weather system. Jammu witnessed temperatures as high as 37.3°C on Sunday 27 March. Last time the highest maximum temperature recorded in March in Jammu was 37.2°C on March 31, 1945,” as per the Met dept. Even Kashmir witnessed higher spring temperatures. Qazigund recorded a maximum temperature of 26.5°C , Kupwara at 26.0°C, Anantnag at 26.0°C, Srinagar City 25.0°C  and Kokernag 24.6°C . Higher altitudes Gulmarg and Pahalgam recorded maximum temperatures of 15.0°C  and 22.3°C  respectively.

As per the Met dept, weather relief will arrive in early April but the higher temperatures will remain unchanged until further pre-monsoon weather activities will begin. The J&K citizens have experienced such weather only in May and springs have often been pleasant. The minimum temperatures across Kashmir, Srinagar recorded 9.4°C, Pahalgam 6.2°C and Gulmarg 4.6°C. Jammu had minimum temperatures 19.7°C, Katra 17.8°C, Batote 12.5°C, Banihal 8.6°C and Bhaderwah 9.5°C.