Kashmir Impulse Desk
Srinagar, Aug 28
Temperatures in Jammu and Kashmir rose on Friday, with Srinagar recording 33.5 degrees Celsius, its highest reading for August this year, as a brief spell of hot and humid weather persisted across the Valley.
The Meteorological Centre said temperatures could rise slightly on Saturday before easing from August 31.
Srinagar’s maximum temperature increased to 32.9 degrees Celsius on Thursday.
Kupwara also recorded 33.5 degrees Celsius, while Qazigund reached 32.6 degrees Celsius, Kokernag 31 degrees Celsius, Pahalgam 27.3 degrees Celsius, and Gulmarg 23.8 degrees Celsius.
In the Jammu region, Jammu city recorded 34.6 degrees Celsius, Katra 32.5 degrees Celsius, Banihal 30.4 degrees Celsius, Bhaderwah 30.6 degrees Celsius, and Batote 28.1 degrees Celsius.
Minimum temperatures in Kashmir remained generally above normal, while those in Jammu were mostly near normal, the weather office said.
The Meteorological Centre forecast light to moderate rain and thundershowers at scattered to many places on August 31, with isolated spells of heavy rain possible in the early morning and afternoon.
Hot and humid conditions are expected to continue into the first week of September, although temperatures are likely to gradually decline.
Isolated rain or thunderstorms are forecast on September 1 and 2, followed by largely isolated rainfall from September 3 to 5.
The weather office warned that intense localized showers could trigger flash floods, mudslides and landslides in vulnerable areas.
August has largely remained dry in Kashmir, with temperatures in the plains generally between 30 degrees Celsius and 32 degrees Celsius.
Rainfall has mostly been confined to isolated showers, including some intense spells in higher reaches.
Srinagar recorded 35.3 degrees Celsius on June 29 and 35.5 degrees Celsius on June 30, its highest temperatures for June.
The mercury reached 35 degrees Celsius on July 17 and 35.9 degrees Celsius on July 18, the highest readings recorded in Kashmir this summer.
