Kashmir is set to experience a significant drop in temperatures starting Saturday, with the Meteorological Centre Srinagar forecasting a dip of 2-3 degrees Celsius, offering a welcome reprieve from the recent heatwave.
The past week saw day temperatures soar several degrees above normal across the valley. Srinagar, the summer capital, recorded a high of 33.2°C on Friday, a striking 7.8 degrees above the seasonal average. This followed Thursday’s peak of 34.4°C, which was the third highest maximum temperature ever recorded for Srinagar, surpassed only by 35°C on May 31, 1956.
For Saturday, the Met department predicts generally cloudy skies with intermittent rain and thundershowers across much of Kashmir. Parts of Jammu are also expected to see scattered rainfall, gusty winds, and isolated intense showers. “We are expecting a fall in maximum temperatures beginning today (Saturday), providing much-needed relief from the recent heat. Thunderstorms and gusty winds are also likely in some areas,” the Met Centre stated.
Looking ahead, May 25 and 26 are forecast to be relatively hot and dry, with only a slight chance of brief, isolated showers in the late afternoon. However, a more unstable weather pattern is anticipated from May 27 to 31, bringing frequent spells of rain and thundershowers accompanied by gusty winds to scattered to many places across the region. The Met department has also issued an advisory warning of sudden gusty winds and thunderstorms during this period.
In response to the heatwave, the education department announced a change in school timings effective Monday. Schools within Srinagar municipal limits will operate from 8:30 AM to 2:30 PM, a shift from the previous 9:00 AM. Other schools throughout Kashmir will function from 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM, instead of 9:30 AM.
