Srinagar, Mar 18: The maximum temperature shattered all time high record for the month of March in Pahalgam and Qazigund as mercury soared to 24.3°C in the world famous resort and 27.8°C in the gate way town of Kashmir respectively on Friday.
The mercury also nearly breached all-time records for other parts of the Valley with Srinagar recording maximum of 27.4°C which is highest in more than last decade barring 31 March 2018 when the summer capital recorded highest ever temperature of 28.3°C, a meteorological department official said. The maximum temperature was almost twice than the normal in Srinagar, the official said.
Similarly, he said, Gulmarg recorded maximum of 16.5°C which is also the second highest ever maximum temperature recorded for the world famous skiing resort in north Kashmir. Gulmarg had the highest ever temperature during the month of March in 31st day in 2018 when it recorded maximum of 17.6°C, the official said. Previous highest temperature for Pahalgam and Qazigund was 23.9°C and 26.5°C respectively, the official said.
Also night temperatures increased at most places across Jammu and Kashmir, settling above normal by 7.3°C Gulmarg.
The meteorological department official said that Srinagar recorded a low of 8.5°C against last night’s 7.6°C. The night temperature was 3.8°C above normal for Srinagar during this time of the year.
Qazigund recorded a low of 7.0°C, same as on the previous night. The temperature was above normal by 3.4°C for the gateway town, he said.
Kokernag, also in south Kashmir, recorded maximum of 26.1 °C and a low of 8.4°C against 7.7°C on the previous night. The minimum temperature was 4.9°C more than normal during this time of the season, the official said.
Pahalgamrecorded a low of 2.0°C against 2.1°C last night. The temperature was 1.9°C above normal, he said.
Gulmarg recorded a low of 5.0°C against 4.8°C on the previous night, the official said. While minus 2.3°C is normal there, the temperature was 7.3°C above usual for the place in north Kashmir’s Baramulla district, he said.
Kupwara town in north Kashmir recorded maximum of 27.3°C and a low of 6.2°C against 5.6°C on the previous night. The temperature was 3.1°C more than normal, the official said.
Jammu recorded maximum of 33.1°C. It recorded low of 24.0°C against 16.9°C on the previous night, the official said. The temperature was 9.1°C above normal for the J&K’s winter capital during this time of the year, he said.
Banihal recorded a low of 8.8°C, Batote had a minimum of 13.1°C while Bhaderwah recorded a low of 9.4°C, the official said.
Ladakh’s Leh recorded a minimum of 1.4°C against 1.4°C previous night while automatic Kargil station recorded a low of minus 2.8°C. Mainly dry weather is expected over Jammu and Kashmir for now, the official added.
