Srinagar, July 29: People heaved a sigh of relief after a light rainfall ended the prolonged heatwave and dry spell in the valley.
On Sunday, mercury broke a 25-year record when it hit 36.2 degrees Celsius.
Officials said moderate to heavy rainfall was reported from south Kashmir districts (Anantnag, Pulwama, Kulgam, and Shopian) while light-to-moderate downpours occurred in the rest of the valley, including Srinagar city.
The MeT Department had forecast rainfall and a subsequent drop in maximum temperature for the day.
Srinagar city on Sunday recorded the hottest day in July since 1999 as the mercury rose to 36.2 degrees Celsius.
Qazigund and Kokernag towns in south Kashmir recorded their hottest-ever day in July on Sunday.
Qazigund recorded a maximum temperature of 35.6 degrees Celsius, surpassing the previous high of 34.5 degrees Celsius recorded on July 11, 1988.
In Kokernag, the mercury rose to 34.1 degrees Celsius against the previous high of 33.3 degrees Celsius recorded on July 3 this year.
The education department announced a two-day holiday on Monday and Tuesday for students up to the primary level given the heatwave.
Kashmir Weather, a private forecaster, said Srinagar recorded the 2nd highest minimum temperature in 132 years on Sunday night when the mercury hit 24.8°C.
Sunday night’s temperature was 6.0°C above normal.
It is the 2nd all-time highest minimum temperature recorded. On 26 July 2021, the minimum temperature hit 24.8°C.
At the top, stays the minimum temperature of 25.2°C recorded on 21 July 1988.
Kashmir Weather said since parts of the valley have been experiencing a severe heatwave over the past week, there is a possibility of intense showers and cloudbursts in some areas over the next four days, which could potentially trigger flash floods.
When hot weather persists over an area for several days, it can cause the atmosphere to become more unstable. This instability can increase the potential for heavy rainfall when a weather system, such as monsoon winds, arrives. The hot surface temperatures can lead to higher rates of evaporation and more moisture in the air, which can contribute to more intense precipitation.
