Day temperatures remain above normal across J&K; dry spell to continue

Srinagar : Day temperatures continued to hover significantly above normal across Jammu and Kashmir on Wednesday, with most places in the Valley recording departures of 8 to 10 degrees Celsius above the seasonal average, officials said.
Reports said that Srinagar recorded a maximum temperature of 20.8 degrees Celsius, which was 8.8 degrees above normal. Qazigund settled at 20.6 degrees Celsius (9.6 degrees above normal), while Pahalgam recorded 17.1 degrees Celsius (8.6 degrees above normal).
Kupwara registered 20.7 degrees Celsius (9.3 degrees above normal), Kokernag 18.5 degrees Celsius (8.7 degrees above normal) and Gulmarg 10.5 degrees Celsius, around 8.1 degrees above normal.
In the Jammu region, Jammu city recorded a maximum of 25.5 degrees Celsius, 2.4 degrees above normal. Banihal registered 20.9 degrees Celsius (7.5 degrees above normal), Batote 19.9 degrees Celsius (6.7 degrees above normal), Bhaderwah 19.4 degrees Celsius (5 degrees above normal) and Katra 24.9 degrees Celsius (4 degrees above normal).
In the Ladakh region, Leh recorded a high of 7.2 degrees Celsius, Kargil 9.1 degrees Celsius and Nubra Valley 10.5 degrees Celsius.
The temperatures remained largely similar to the previous day, when most stations across Kashmir had recorded departures of up to 10 degrees above normal.
The Meteorological Centre Srinagar has forecast generally dry weather across Jammu and Kashmir on February 25 and 26.
Between February 27 and 28, the weather department has predicted partly to generally cloudy skies with light rain or snow at isolated places. March 1 is likely to remain generally dry.
From March 2 to 3, partly to generally cloudy conditions with light rain or snow over higher reaches at isolated to scattered places are expected, followed by a dry spell from March 4 to 7. Another spell of partly to generally cloudy weather with light rain or snow in higher reaches at isolated to scattered places is likely between March 8 and 10, the MeT office said.
The department has advised farmers to continue their agricultural operations and said a further rise of 1 to 2 degrees Celsius in day temperatures at most places is likely over the next two days