Jammu and Kashmir Records Driest, Warmest January in 43 Years
Press Trust of Kashmir
The Meteorological Centre in Srinagar has reported that Jammu and Kashmir experienced its warmest January in over four decades, accompanied by minimal precipitation levels. According to data from the Meteorological Centre, several regions, including Srinagar city, witnessed exceptionally high temperatures, with Srinagar recording the second driest January in the past 40 years, with a mere 3.0 mm of precipitation.
The data revealed that the mean maximum temperature in January for Srinagar was recorded at 11.9 degrees Celsius, while Gulmarg in north Kashmir and Banihal in Ramban district registered 5.7 degrees Celsius and 16.9 degrees Celsius respectively. Notably, Jammu city marked its lowest mean maximum temperature for January in over four decades.
Commenting on the unusual weather patterns, the Meteorological Centre stated, “2024 January was one of the driest and warmest January in the last 43 years for most of the stations of J&K except the stations of plains of Jammu (Jammu, Samba, and Kathua).” Conversely, Jammu station recorded a mean maximum temperature of 13.4 degrees Celsius, the lowest since 1983.
In addition to soaring temperatures, the mean minimum temperatures for January were observed at minus 3.2 degrees Celsius for Srinagar, 5.5 degrees Celsius for Jammu, minus 3.9 degrees Celsius for Gulmarg, and 0.1 degrees Celsius for Banihal. Notably, Gulmarg witnessed one of its highest mean minimum temperatures in the last 43 years.
The Meteorological Centre’s findings underscore the significant deviation from typical weather patterns in the region, raising concerns about the impact of climate change on the fragile ecosystem of Jammu and Kashmir. As extreme weather events become increasingly common, it becomes imperative for local authorities to implement sustainable measures to mitigate the effects of climate change and ensure the resilience of communities in the region.
