Kashmir Scorches in Unprecedented January 2024 Heatwave: All-Time High Temperatures Rewrite History

Kashmir Scorches in Unprecedented January 2024 Heatwave: All-Time High Temperatures Rewrite History

Waris Nissar

Srinagar, Feb 05 (KS): In an extraordinary turn of events, Kashmir experiences an unprecedented January 2024 heatwave, rewriting historical temperature records.

Faizan Arif Keng, an independent weather forecaster informed news agency Kashmir Scroll that in January 2024, Kashmir region and certain areas of Jammu region experienced unusually high temperatures, marking it as the warmest January on record.

He said the absence of snowfall and inactive Western Disturbances contributed to extraordinary high temperatures, reaching more than 8°C above normal levels on some days during the month.

At 11.7°C, Srinagar experienced its warmest-ever mean maximum temperature in January, tying with the years 2001 and 1902. While, Gulmarg, Pahalgam, Qazigund, Kokernag, and Kupwara observed their highest-ever temperatures.

Gulmarg recorded a mean maximum temperature of 5.4°C, Pahalgam 10.3°C, Qazigund 12.1°C, Kokernag 10.9°C, and Kupwara 11.6°C, he said. In Jammu region, he said Banihal recorded unprecedented all-time highest mean maximum temperature of 16.4°C.

Bhaderwah and Batote, he said experienced their second-highest mean maximum temperatures on record. Bhaderwah, he said recorded 14.7°C, near to its highest recorded temperature of 15.4°C.

Meanwhile, Batote recorded 14.8°C, matching the temperature recorded in 2010, with the all-time highest mean maximum temperature being 18.4°C in 1995, he said. (KS)