SHAKEELA ANDRABI
SRINAGAR: The months of March and April were once considered as rainy season in Valley as good rainfall was recorded during these months, but 2022 proved as a different year and has broken many records in respect of temperature across Srinagar.
According to MeT, March 2022 was the warmest month since 1974. The continuous dry weather has added to woes of people related to sectors like tourism, agriculture and horticulture. Weather remained dry in J&K and Ladakh on Wednesday as Meteorological (MeT) department forecast dry weather with clear sky in two union territories during next 24 hours. Jammu and Kashmir saw recording-breaking temperatures during March 2022, as many stations broke their all-time highest maximum temperature records. Srinagar recorded a mean maximum of 20.7°C, which was warmest since 2004.
While average minimum temperature fell to 6.7°C, the highest ever temperature recorded in 131 years. The overall figures for March were 13.7°C in 2022 and 13.65°C in 2004, thus surpassing previous record set in 2004.
As per IMD, Qazigund recorded an average temperature of 12.6°C, the warmest since at least 1974. The mean maximum in 2004 was 20.6°C, in 2022 it was 20.4°C An average minimum of 6.5°C was recorded in 1975, while 4.8°C was recorded in 2010, 2021 and 2022. Kupwara saw warmest temperature this March and 13.4°C was the highest mean temperature ever recorded since then. Pahalgam recorded a mean temperature of 9.4°C in March 2022, while the highest ever record was 9.7°C set in 2004.
Jammu recorded its second warmest temperature since 1982. In 2004, the mean temperature stood at 24.4°C, while in 2022 it was 23.3°C.
For Bhadarwah, it was the warmest March since 1985, which recorded an average temperature of 16°C. The mean maximum for the month stood at 24.6°C, lagging behind 24.9°C figure set in 2004. However, at 7.4°C, the mean minimum temperature was the highest since 1985. The average temperature figure was 16.4°C in 2022, while it was 16.7°C in 2004. This March, Banihal recorded highest-ever mean temperature and average temperature was 15.4°C. Katra saw the highest temperatures since 2004. In 2004, average temperature was 22.6°C, while in 2022 it was 22 °C.