Dry spell leaves plains, upper reaches grappling with uncertainty
Srinagar: February 2026 has emerged as one of the driest months on record across Jammu and Kashmir, with several meteorological stations reporting either their lowest-ever rainfall or figures close to historic lows, according to data.
According to independent weatherman FaizanArif of Kashmir Weather, Srinagar recorded only 5.3 mm rainfall during February.
Data available since 1901, this is the lowest February rainfall since 1960, when 5.8 mm was registered, placing this year among the driest Februaries in over a century for the summer capital.
In the Jammu division, Jammu city recorded zero rainfall during the month. Records dating back to 1925 show that such a complete absence of rainfall in February has occurred only once before — in 1945 — making 2026 only the second such instance in 101 years.
In North Kashmir’s Kupwara, 17.7 mm rainfall was recorded, the lowest since records began in 1977. The previous lowest was 21.8 mm in 1997.
The ski resort of Gulmarg recorded 48.0 mm precipitation. While not an all-time low, it is the lowest February rainfall there since 1985, when 24.8 mm was observed. Data for Gulmarg is available from 1967 onwards.
Qazigund in South Kashmir reported 13.0 mm rainfall, the lowest since records began in 1963, breaking the previous record low of 31.6 mm set in 2020. Pahalgam recorded 23.4 mm, marginally below its previous lowest of 23.6 mm in 2020, with data available since 1979.
Kokernag registered 13.0 mm rainfall, the second lowest since 1978, just above the all-time low of 11.8 mm recorded in 2020.
In the Chenab Valley region, Banihal recorded 8.4 mm rainfall, the lowest since 1962, while Batote reported 18.8 mm, also the lowest since 1978. Bhaderwah recorded 49.0 mm, making it the third lowest February rainfall there since 1978.
In the Shivalik foothills, Katra recorded zero rainfall, the lowest February total since records began in 1981, surpassing the previous low of 5.0 mm in 2023.
Officials said the prolonged dry spell has raised concerns in both the plains and higher reaches, particularly in snow-dependent and agriculture-reliant areas.
