*Rain brings some relief in Kashmir
Gopal Sharma
JAMMU, Apr 25 While intermittent rain has brought some relief from the heat-wave in Kashmir, Jammu sweltered on Saturday as heat-wave conditions gripped plain areas in the region, with the city recording a high of 40.2 degrees Celsius, about 5.7 notches above the normal.
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Official sources said that Chatha observatory of SKUAST-Jammu, crossed 40 degrees Celsius temperature on Saturday while it remained 40.0 degrees Celsius on Friday. Scorching heat during the day, has restricted the movement of people on the city roads and lanes during noon, with the sharp rise in the mercury for the last couple of days.
Chief Scientist, Agrometeorology Department of SKUAST-Jammu, Dr Mahender Singh when contacted said that the temperature is gradually rising in the plains of Jammu region and adjoining Punjab for the last couple of days due to dry and hot weather. He said there seems to be little change in the pattern of weather for the past some time. Dr Singh said during this March, the weather remained abnormal. From mid March to mid -April it remained below normal and now it has crossed 40 degrees Celsius within few days.
When asked is there any impact on the weather due to massive bombing /explosions during ongoing war between Iran and US-Israel in Middle East, the SKUAST Scientist said, ” No doubt with the heavy explosions, massive heat and gases are being generated and entering our atmosphere. And they are definitely impacting our atmosphere. If our atmosphere is being affected, then certainly they will impact the universe.”
Meanwhile, a Met official said that the minimum temperature in Jammu city remained above average at 22.8 degrees Celsius, 2.0 degrees above normal.
Katra town, the base camp for pilgrims visiting the Mata Vaishnodevi Shrine in Trikuta hills of Reasi district, also witnessed a sharp rise in temperature, recording a maximum of 36 degrees Celsius, 6.2 degrees above normal, while the minimum temperature settled at 23.0 degrees Celsius, 5.4 degrees above normal.
Banihal town of Jammu region recorded a night temperature of 13.4 deg C, about 4.1 degrees C above normal; Bhaderwah town 13.0 deg C, 4.2 deg C above normal while Batote town registered a day temperature of 27.1 deg C, 3.9 deg C above normal on Saturday. The day temperature in Srinagar was about 5 degrees above normal while in Pahalgam it was about 6.2 deg C above normal today.
The persistent rise in both day and night temperatures at many places across the region has led to uncomfortable conditions, particularly during afternoon hours.
The Meteorological Department predicted that hot and dry weather with isolated heat-wave conditions is likely to continue over the plains of Jammu division for the next four days.
Residents have been advised to take precautions, avoid prolonged sun exposure, and stay hydrated amid the prevailing sweltering conditions.
Meanwhile, intermittent rains lashed most parts of Kashmir on Saturday, bringing relief from the heat-wave conditions, even as the Met Department forecast another spell of wet weather early next week.
Overnight, the plains of Kashmir, including the summer capital Srinagar, experienced continuous rain that persisted until late morning on Saturday. There were also reports of light snowfall in Zojila Pass.
As the weather improved in the afternoon, the rain brought down temperatures, alleviating the heatwave that had been prevalent in the valley over the past few days.
Srinagar recorded a maximum temperature of 28.1 degrees Celsius on Friday, which was over six degrees higher than the seasonal normal. The minimum temperature was also nearly five degrees above average.
In general, temperatures at most locations in Kashmir were over six degrees above normal on Friday.
However, following the rainfall and overcast conditions on Saturday, the temperature dropped to 21.2 degrees Celsius – approximately seven degrees lower than the previous day and nearly one degree below the seasonal average, an official said.
All weather stations in the Valley reported below-normal day temperatures on Saturday.
The MeT Office said that while the weather is expected to be generally dry on Sunday, there is a chance of light rain, thunder showers, and gusty winds in scattered areas from Monday onwards. A brief spell of light rain and thunder is likely at a few locations on April 29-30 in the late afternoon.
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