Kashmir Impulse Desk

Srinagar, June 11

Rain, thunderstorms, gusty winds and hailstorms swept parts of Jammu and Kashmir on Thursday, ending a spell of above-normal temperatures across the region, while fresh snowfall was reported from higher reaches including the Apharwat hills in north Kashmir’s Gulmarg area.

A fresh western disturbance influenced weather conditions across the region during the day, bringing rain and thundershowers to several areas, officials at the Meteorological Centre in Srinagar said.

Many places witnessed brief but intense showers accompanied by thunderstorms, lightning and strong winds during the afternoon and evening, they said.

The weather office had earlier warned of rain, thundershowers, hailstorms, lightning and gusty winds over parts of south Kashmir and several districts of the Jammu region, including Rajouri, Ramban, Reasi, Udhampur, Doda and Kishtwar.

It also cautioned about the possibility of localised flash floods and mudslides in vulnerable areas due to intense short-duration rainfall.

In Kupwara district, a lightning strike triggered a forest fire in pine-covered areas of Sazaan village, officials said. No casualties were reported immediately.

The Meteorological Department advised residents to remain indoors during thunderstorms and avoid electric poles, overhead wires, old trees and weak structures.

It also recommended suspension of boating and shikara services on Dal Lake and other water bodies during adverse weather conditions.

The change in weather came after temperatures remained above seasonal averages across most parts of Jammu and Kashmir earlier in the day.

Srinagar recorded a maximum temperature of 31.5 degrees Celsius, 3.5 degrees above normal, while the minimum settled at 18.5 degrees Celsius, nearly four degrees above average. Qazigund recorded a maximum of 30.2 degrees Celsius, while Pahalgam registered 25.9 degrees Celsius and Kupwara 30.2 degrees Celsius.

Gulmarg, the union territory’s premier ski resort, recorded a maximum temperature of 21.6 degrees Celsius.

In the Jammu region, Jammu city was the hottest place at 41.8 degrees Celsius, around three degrees above normal. Katra recorded 38.3 degrees Celsius, Batote 31.3 degrees Celsius and Bhadarwah 27.2 degrees Celsius.

Among rainfall stations, Batote received 24.6 mm of precipitation during the day, followed by Bhadarwah with 21.2 mm. Katra recorded 2.6 mm and Pahalgam 1.2 mm, while several other stations reported only trace rainfall.

The Meteorological Department forecast partly to generally cloudy weather with light to moderate rain, thunderstorms, lightning and gusty winds at many places through June 12.

From June 13 to 17, weather conditions are expected to remain partly to generally cloudy with scattered rain and thundershower activity, mainly during afternoon and evening hours.

The department advised orchard growers to avoid spraying operations on June 12 because of the likelihood of widespread thundershower activity, adding that morning spraying may be possible from June 14 onwards depending on local weather conditions.

It said thundershowers during the forecast period were likely to be brief but could be accompanied by isolated hailstorms and strong winds.