SRINAGAR: Jammu and Kashmir is likely to experience largely dry weather over the next 10 to 12 days, offering farmers a favourable window to continue harvesting, drying and storage operations during the peak agricultural season, the Meteorological Department said.
Director of Meteorological Department Mukhtar Ahmad said weather conditions had remained generally dry in recent days, with comparatively warmer days and cooler mornings and evenings.
“There is no major weather activity expected for the time being,” Mukhtar said, adding that generally dry conditions were likely to persist over the coming days.
He said a brief change in weather could occur around September 14 and 15, when partly to generally cloudy conditions may develop, with spells of thundershowers possible in some areas.
The showers are more likely during the late afternoon and evening, although some activity could also occur during the early morning and morning hours, he said.
The forecast comes as harvesting of apples, paddy and other field crops is under way across Jammu and Kashmir, with farmers relying on stable weather for harvesting, drying, transportation and storage.
Mukhtar said farmers could continue harvesting and other field activities as no significant weather-related disruption was expected during the next 10 to 12 days.
“Harvesting can continue, and storage and drying work can also be carried out,” he said.
Predominantly dry conditions could provide farmers with time to bring mature crops and fruit from fields and orchards to safety. Rain during the harvesting period can affect drying, transportation and storage operations, particularly where produce needs to be moved soon after harvesting.
The forecast comes amid contrasting rainfall patterns recorded during the current monsoon season.
After a relatively deficient period, July recorded good rainfall in several parts of Jammu and Kashmir, including the Pir Panjal range, Jammu plains and parts of the Kashmir Valley.
According to the department, rainfall in July was around 35 per cent above normal, placing the month in the normal-to-excess category.
August, however, remained comparatively dry, with rainfall recording a deficit of around 25 per cent, the department said.
Despite the variation between the two months, the overall rainfall position has remained within the normal category.
From June 1 to September 10, rainfall in the Kashmir Valley was around 1 per cent above normal, while Jammu division recorded a departure of around 5 per cent above normal.
Mukhtar said the predominantly dry conditions expected in the coming period were likely to keep the overall rainfall situation in the below-normal to near-normal range.
