Srinagar: June 21: In a stark indicator of changing climatic patterns, Srinagar on Friday recorded a minimum temperature of 23.2°C, making it the fourth highest June night temperature in the city’s recorded history spanning 134 years. This temperature is also the highest minimum since 24 June 1990, when the mercury settled at 23.6°C. Interestingly, the same minimum of 23.2°C was also recorded on 15 June 2008.
The all-time highest minimum temperature for Srinagar in June stands at 24.6°C, recorded on 29 June 1978.
Other parts of the Kashmir Valley also experienced unusually warm nights:
Pahalgam, known for its cool nights, recorded a minimum of 16.8°C, the third highest ever for June. This same temperature was noted on 16 June 2008, while the highest remains 17.6°C, logged on 15 June 2008.
In Kokernag, the mercury dipped no lower than 20.4°C, placing it as the third highest minimum temperature ever recorded in the month of June. The highest on record is 22.6°C, observed on 26 June 2011.
Kupwara saw a minimum of 21.1°C, ranking as the fifth highest June minimum. The town’s historical record stands at 21.8°C, set on 27 June 1978.
These anomalies underline a concerning trend of rising night-time temperatures in the Kashmir Valley, often considered a natural cool zone. Meteorologists point to a combination of factors, including persistent cloud cover, urban heat retention, and broader climate change, for this unusual spell of warmth.
