Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, Feb 4: The Indian Meteorological Department’s (IMD) seasonal rainfall data of this year shows a rainfall deficit of 21 percent for Jammu and Kashmir.
The overall J&K subdivision recorded 83.8 mm of rainfall against a normal of 105.8 mm, reflecting a deficit of 21 per cent, categorised as ‘Deficient’.
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Several districts witnessed severe shortfalls. Kupwara emerged as the worst-hit, recording only 25.6 mm against a normal of 84.3 mm-a massive deficit of 70 per cent, categorised as ‘Large Deficient’.
Bandipora recorded a 66 per cent deficit, while Kishtwar reported a 79 per cent shortfall. In south Kashmir, Shopian registered a 59 per cent deficit and Kulgam 54 per cent.
Budgam saw a 49 per cent shortfall, while Srinagar recorded a 31 per cent deficit. Other districts facing notable rainfall shortages include Anantnag (25%), Baramulla (30%), Pulwama (13%), and Ganderbal (19%), pointing to a widespread precipitation deficit across the Valley.
In contrast, a few districts recorded significant rainfall surpluses, mainly in parts of the Jammu division and Ladakh.
Kargil reported an extraordinary 246 per cent excess, receiving 24.6 mm against a normal of just 7.1 mm, placing it in the ‘Large Excess’ category.
Rajouri registered a 62 per cent surplus, while Samba recorded a 94 percent excess, Doda 32 per cent, Poonch 30 per cent, Udhampur 18 per cent, Reasi 15 per cent, and Kathua 13 per cent. Leh, however, recorded 2.4 mm of precipitation against a normal of 3.8 mm, marking a deficit of 38 per cent.
Meanwhile, Gulmarg recorded a biting minimum temperature of minus 8°C today, the lowest in J&K, even as most weather stations across the region reported above-normal daytime temperatures.
According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), maximum temperatures across the region largely stayed above normal.
In the Kashmir Valley, Srinagar recorded a high of 11.1°C, which was 2.1 degrees above the seasonal average, while Qazigund touched 10.6°C, 2.1 degrees above its normal of 8.5°C.
Kupwara and Pahalgam registered highs of 10.3°C and 7.4°C, respectively, both about 1.3 degrees above normal.
In the Jammu region, Katra recorded a maximum temperature of 20.1°C, nearly three degrees above normal, followed by Jammu at 22.6°C, which was 2.4 degrees higher than its seasonal average.
Batote, Kokernag, and Bhaderwah also remained marginally warmer than usual.
In contrast, Gulmarg recorded a maximum of just 0.8°C, 0.6 degrees below normal, while Banihal saw the sharpest negative deviation, logging 10.1°C against a normal of 11.8°C, a deficit of 1.7 degrees.
Overall, nine of the 11 stations with available data reported above-normal daytime temperatures.
The IMD has forecast largely dry weather across J&K till February 15, with only brief spells of light rain or snowfall during the period.
Weather conditions are expected to remain generally dry from February 4 to 8, with the possibility of very light snowfall over isolated higher reaches on the night of February 6.
Light rain or snowfall is likely at many places between February 9 and 10, followed by light snowfall over a few higher areas on February 11.
From February 12 to 15, the weather is again expected to remain mostly dry.
No weather warnings have been issued for the next seven days, indicating stable conditions across both the Kashmir and Jammu divisions.
Regarding minimum temperatures, Gulmarg was the coldest station at -8.0°C, while Bhaderwah recorded the lowest minimum in the Jammu division at -2.0°C.
In the Kashmir Valley plains, Srinagar recorded a low of 3.0°C, which was 3.6 degrees above normal, followed by Qazigund at 1.0°C and Kupwara at 1.6°C.
In the higher reaches, Pahalgam registered a minimum of -5.6°C.
In the Jammu region, Jammu city recorded a minimum of 8.3°C and Katra 7.5°C, while the hills remained colder, with Banihal at -1.1°C and Bhaderwah at -2.0°C.
Data from various Automatic Weather Stations (AWS) corroborated the trend, with most plains and mid-altitude stations, including Jammu (9.9°C) and Udhampur (6.4°C), recording above-freezing minimum temperatures.
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