Weather of Kashmir valley is quite erratic. However, the climate of Kashmir can be divided into four seasons, namely spring, summer, autumn and winter.
Spring: The spring season starts in March and lasts up to early May. The average temperature during spring season ranges from 23°C to 6°C. Brief showers, light winds and blossoming flowers characterize this season. Along with that, the whole of Kashmir stands blanketed in the hues of green.
Summer: Starting from May, the summer season extends up to the end of August. The climatic conditions of Kashmir in summers are not quite hot. In valley, you may even require to put on light woolens in summers. The average temperature in the daytime falls in the range of 25°C to 35°C. Kashmir is the most sought after hill station during summers.
Autumn: With the onset of September comes the time for the autumn season. The whole region gets covered in the hues of first gold, then russet and then red. The average temperature during autumn hovers around 23°C (max) to 10°C (min). The season lasts till late November, by which time the need for heavy woolens starts mounting.
Winter: Stretching from December to early March is the winter season in Kashmir. During this period the valley mainly remains covered with snow throughout, Kashmir looks like a picture straight out of a fairytale. The average temperature during winter hovers around 7°C (max) to -3°C (min). This year the weather changes experience in the valley of Kashmir remained quite undesirable. Kashmir experienced its hottest September in over half a century, with temperatures reaching 34.2 degrees Celsius on September 12. The previous record, dating back to September 1, 1970, stood at 33.8 degrees Celsius.
The heatwave has multiple negative effects. It adversely affects human health and the availability of natural resources like drinking water. The water level has also receded in the Jhelum River, causing distress among houseboat owners. Multiple reports suggest that water levels in the Jhelum River and its tributaries have receded, causing concern among locals, especially farmers. Moreover, there is also an agricultural impact due to the lack of rain. There are variations in climate change every 40-50 years. It is a natural phenomenon. But the people need to abstain from all such activities which can cause drastic climatic changes.
The all-time highest September temperature in Srinagar was registered on September 28, 1934, at 35 degrees Celsius.It was the second-highest maximum temperature ever recorded in September since 1891, when the weather observatory was established.The heatwave has broken a 53-year-old record .
The forecast indicates that the heatwave to severe heatwave conditions are expected to persist in Kashmir for an additional 4-5 days. This prolonged dry spell is attributed to stable atmospheric conditions resulting in reduced moisture. The state of Jammu and Kashmir can expect a continued deficit in rainfall for the next week, as stated by meteorological officials. The Jhelum Riverbed is drying up due to an ongoing and unbroken dry spell in the region.
While June and July recorded good rains, August-September has been much hotter, resulting in rainfall deficit. Weather officials have cited prolonged dry spells and less moisture as the prime cause for the heatwave. Weather officials have cited prolonged dry spells and less moisture as the prime cause for the heatwave. Factors such as rising urbanization play a part; however, it has a minimal impact. It doesn’t affect the temperature changes significantly and have gradual consequences, The heatwave has multiple negative effects. It adversely affects human health and the availability of natural resources like drinking water. The water level has also receded in the Jhelum River, causing distress among houseboat owners. Multiple reports suggest that water levels in the Jhelum River and its tributaries have receded, causing concern among locals, especially farmers. Moreover, there is also an agricultural impact due to the lack of rain. There are variations in climate change every 40-50 years. It is a natural phenomenon. But the people need to abstain from all such activities which can cause drastic climatic changes.
(The author An Assistant Professor at the Govt Degree College Chatroo Kishtwar has mailed this article to “Kashmir Horizon” for publication in this newspaper. The views, opinions, facts, assumptions, presumptions and conclusions expressed in this article are those of the author and aren’t necessarily in accord with the views of “Kashmir Horizon”.)
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