Amid heatwave, J&K braces for light to moderate rains from Wednesday

By: Owais Gul

Srinagar: The Weather Department here has predicted a major relief from the scorching heat, saying there is a forecast of intermittent light to moderate rain and thundershower at many places of Kashmir from Wednesday.

According to the forecast details, hot and humid weather conditions are expected to continue tomorrow with the possibility of brief spells of rain and thundershower at scattered places.

As per an Independent Weather Forecaster, Aadil Maqbool, the hottest day of the season is expected tomorrow as Srinagar City may touch 36 degrees Celsius.

Director Meteorological department (MeT), Dr Mukhtar Ahmad said that intermittent spells of light to moderate rain and thundershower are expected at many places with the possibility of heavy rain at isolated places of Jammu division from June 25 to June 27..

He added that between June 28 to 30, there is a possibility of intermittent rain and thundershower at scattered places while from July 01 to 02, there is a possibility of intermittent rain and thundershower at scattered places.

In this regard, the MeT has issued an advisory, stating that there is a possibility of moderate to heavy rain with intense showers at a few places, mainly in Jammu division from June 25 to 27. It added that flash floods at a few vulnerable places with landslides, mudslides and shooting stones are expected.

Water logging in low-lying areas of the plains of Jammu division and a rise in water level in rivers and local nallahs are expected, the advisory reads, adding that farmers are advised to suspend irrigation, spraying and fertiliser application from June 25 to June 27.

Meanwhile, the maximum temperature continued to settle above normal in Kashmir while it remained below normal at a few places of Jammu division.

In Srinagar, the summer capital of Jammu and Kashmir, the mercury settled at 34.6 degrees Celsius, while in Jammu, the winter capital of the region, a maximum temperature of 36.6 degrees Celsius was recorded on Monday.

Qazigund, a gateway of Kashmir, recorded 33.4 degrees Celsius while Pahalgam, a famous tourist destination, recorded 28.8 degrees Celsius. In Kupwara, the mercury settled at 33.5 degrees Celsius, and Kokernag and Gulmarg, a famous ski resort, recorded 32.6 degrees Celsius and 25.2 degrees Celsius, respectively.

Banihal in Jammu division recorded 30.5 degrees Celsius while Katra recorded 32.5 degrees Celsius. Batote and Bhaderwah recorded 29.1 degrees Celsius and 32.0 degrees Celsius, respectively—(KNO)