Srinagar, July 21: Southern Jammu bore the brunt of a heavy rain spell on Tuesday, with Kathua recording a staggering 124.5 mm of precipitation—the highest in the region—even as most parts of the Valley and Jammu division experienced a sharp dip in temperatures, settling way below the seasonal normal, the India Meteorological Department said.
The wet spell, which has persisted through the day, has not only brought an unseasonal chill but also raised concerns of waterlogging and landslides, with authorities issuing an advisory for residents in vulnerable areas.
Srinagar recorded a maximum temperature of 24.2°C—a significant 5.7 degrees below normal—while the minimum settled at 20.0°C. Gulmarg, the famous ski resort, remained the coldest spot in the Valley, with the mercury hovering at just 16.0°C, which is 4.8 degrees below the seasonal average.
Jammu city, too, felt the chill, logging a high of 25.3°C—8.2 degrees below normal—and a minimum of 24.4°C. Other key stations, including Qazigund (23.0°C), Kupwara (23.2°C), Kukernag (23.5°C), Banihal (22.0°C), Batote (21.3°C), Katra (23.1°C), and Bhaderwah (21.5°C), all remained significantly below normal, IMD data showed.
Katra logs 107.1 mm, Gulmarg sees 46.2 mm in 9 hours
In the 24 hours ending 8:30 am, Gulmarg led the Valley with 29.4 mm of rain, followed by Qazigund (12.4 mm), Kukernag (9.2 mm), Srinagar (9.1 mm), and Kupwara and Pahalgam (4.8 mm each). But it was the Jammu region that witnessed the real downpour—Katra recorded a massive 107.1 mm, while Jammu city received 35.0 mm.
The intensity picked up sharply between 8:30 am and 5:30 pm, with Jammu receiving an additional 42.5 mm and Gulmarg 46.2 mm, indicating the system’s persistence over the region.
Station-wise data revealed the extent of the deluge in the south. Kathua’s Burmal station topped the list with 124.5 mm, followed by Kathua KVK at 115.0 mm and Kathua town at 103.5 mm. Samba recorded 84.5 mm, highlighting the widespread nature of the rainfall.
In the Valley, Baramulla KVK received 32.0 mm, while Gulmarg recorded 31.0 mm. Reasi’s SMVD Bhawan registered 31.0 mm, and in Poonch, Rajpura Mandi saw 30.0 mm, with Poonch town recording 28.0 mm.
Humidity hits 100%, advisory out
Relative humidity remained exceptionally high across all stations, with Gulmarg, Jammu, and Katra recording saturation levels of 100% at 5:30 pm—a clear indicator of the moisture-heavy atmosphere.
With more rain forecast, authorities have urged residents to stay alert. “Waterlogging, road blockages, and landslides are likely in vulnerable stretches,” an official said, advising against unnecessary travel in affected areas.
The MeT has indicated that the weather system is likely to continue its impact, keeping the administration on high alert as it monitors the situation in sensitive districts, particularly in the rain-battered southern Jammu region.
Comments are closed.