54% deficient rainfall in J&K this summer, says Met Dept

M Aamir Khan

Tribune News Service

Srinagar, August 18

Day after breaking the 39-year-old record, the maximum temperature in the summer capital dropped by a few notches today due to early morning rainfall. However, the day remained sunny later and the heat wave is expected to continue in the Valley.

The Meteorological Department said Jammu and Kashmir received 54 per cent deficient rainfall this summer.

An official of the Meteorological Department said Srinagar city recorded the maximum temperature of 31.2°C as compared to yesterday’s 35.7°C that was the hottest August day of the last 39 years. The city received 20.2 mm rainfall in the morning today.

Hot weather conditions are expected to persist during the coming days. Incidentally, the Met office had announced the arrival of monsoon on June 24. However, the Valley mostly witnessed dry weather conditions amid soaring temperatures.

Director, Met office, Sonam Lotus said the Union Territory received only 166.8 mm rainfall from June 1 till Monday that was 54 per cent less than normal (362.6 mm). He said Bandipore district in north Kashmir received only 13.5 mm rainfall that was 87 per cent below normal, while Shopian district in south Kashmir received only 11 mm rainfall that was 94 per cent below normal.

Meanwhile, the weatherman has forecast scattered light to moderate rainfall in the Jammu region and isolated rain/thunderstorms in the Valley, besides dry weather in the Ladakh region. Kargil and Leh districts of Ladakh, too, recorded 89 and 58 per cent, respectively, deficient rainfall this summer.