SRINAGAR: Srinagar woke up to an unprecedented 25.0°C minimum temperature on Wednesday — the highest ever recorded in the city for June, even as the weather station finally forecast a spell of rain for the next three days. The forecast comes after an earlier prediction of rainfall on June 21 failed to materialise, leaving the city to swelter under relentless heat.
The soaring night-time low, more typical of a summer afternoon in Kashmir, has stunned even seasoned meteorologists. “This is the first time in recorded history that Srinagar has witnessed such a warm June night. We’re essentially waking up to what used to be considered peak daytime heat,” said a Kashmir Weather representative. The current average daytime temperature in the city stands at 29.2°C, meaning Tuesday night’s low nearly matched the Valley’s summer highs.
The heat has been steadily intensifying. On Tuesday, June 24, Srinagar registered a maximum temperature of 35.5°C — a full 6.3°C above the seasonal normal. Other parts of the Valley also baked under a punishing sun: Qazigund recorded 33.6°C, Kupwara 34.7°C, Kokernag 33.2°C, and even the usually cool Pahalgam rose to 30.6°C — all significantly above average. Gulmarg, Kashmir’s famed hill resort, hit a rare 26.0°C, registering a 6.0°C departure from normal.
Although parts of the Jammu region experienced some respite due to intermittent cloud cover, the heat still prevailed. Jammu city, at 34.1°C, was actually 3.5°C below normal, but towns like Bhaderwah (33.2°C) and Katra (30.7°C) continued to experience high temperatures throughout the week. In Ladakh, Leh reported 31.5°C, while Kargil touched 34.6°C — unusually high readings for the cold desert region.
The new rain prediction — starting today and likely to continue for three days — may offer temporary relief from the heat, though public trust in forecasts has been dented after last week’s unmet promise of rain. Authorities, however, are preparing for both scenarios: sudden rain-triggered disruptions and continued heatwave stress.
Environmental experts say the rising minimum temperatures — often a clearer indicator of climate stress than daytime highs — are a red flag for the Valley’s fragile ecology. Prolonged heat spells, they warn, may have long-term implications for Kashmir’s glaciers, agriculture, and water availability.
With June on track to become one of the hottest ever recorded in Srinagar, residents now look skyward, hoping the forecast rains will finally arrive, and with them, a break from the heat.
